North Korea await final order / Communication hotline severed

What about the possibilty of a large scale EMP ?


english.chosun.com...

Experts Puzzle Over N.Korean 'Precision Strike' Threat

North Korea on Wednesday planted a bomb among some defense pundits by threatening to use "precision nuclear strikes" that can turn Seoul and Washington into a "sea of fire."

While most experts dismissed the threat as the usual North Korean grandstanding, a handful are taking it more seriously, speculating that perhaps North Korea’s weapons technology is vastly more advanced than the evidence suggests.

One member of a state-run research institute pointed out that North Korea in principle has the technology to hit the U.S. mainland with an intercontinental ballistic missile. "Through the successful rocket launch in December, North Korea is believed to have developed an ICBM with a maximum range of more than 10,000 km," he said.

The expert, who asked to remain anonymous, speculated this could be used to deliver a so-called electromagnetic pulse bomb.

One way of delivering a destructive electromagnetic pulse could be to detonate a nuclear weapon at high altitude in an effort to incapacitate all electric systems and electronic devices.

An official with the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses here told a National Assembly hearing in 2009, "North Korea is capable of using a small nuclear warhead in the form of an EMP bomb." The official added, "If a 20 kt nuclear weapon explodes 40 to 60 km above the East Sea, all weapons equipped with electronic equipment on the Korean Peninsula could become incapacitated."

(more)
english.chosun.com...

Originally posted by superman2012
reply to post by w3thepatient

 

When the face of the country is its God, then it is of consequence.

Here is the link again for the Yonhap News Agency as requested by another poster.

Its pretty much the law over there to worship the leader. Its not a choice...
source

“Most of the mourners were crying because they had been brainwashed by Kim Il Sung’s personality cult,” according to Hwang. “But there was also the fact that anything other than mourning was not allowed.” “The party conducted surveys to see who displayed the most grief, and made this an important criterion in assessing party members’ loyalty. Patients who remained in hospitals and people who drank and made merry even after hearing news of their leader’s death were all singled out for punishment.”

in context my comments are directed at analysis of the North K strategy in these current events.
A new face on the old regime does not need to be taken into account when looking at past form in similar circumstance IMHO

reply to post by mr-lizard


Here's my take on this. China pushed full sanctions for a reason, to make it look like they were the US's bitch, which the NK fell for, hook, line and sinker setting the fat kid up to do something really stupid. China is going to let their little rabid dog out a bit further on its leash to create limited amounts of havoc. Then one of two things will happen, the US during war games that turn into a real short lived war, knock down the present NK regime so a new one can be inserted by the Chinese. That allows China to save face and get what they want, control of NK and possibly eventually SK. The other option is China knocks down the NK regime and doesn't need to save face being its doing the world a service and ultimately becomes the hero in the mess.

In both cases, China wins. It doesn't really matter where the muscle comes from, China retains it's biggest trading partner and forestalls the ax from falling on its own brewing economic crises. The leaders of China aren't stupid and I expect this kind of deal was on the table before 911.

Cheers - Dave

Wasn"t the February 12, 2013 nuclear weapon test funded by Iran ?

Is Iran using Korea for testing its own weapons design efficacy ?

reply to post by azureskys


Thank you. This is a possibility i had not thought of.

Going into complete speculation mode perhaps NK could stage an "alien invasion" terror campaign on americans using unconventional weapons and possibly large herald type trumpeting from the sky. I'm sure they've read War of the Worlds too and America does have a LOT of people waiting for the biblical apocalypse. Think of the chaos!

One way of delivering a destructive electromagnetic pulse could be to detonate a nuclear weapon at high altitude in an effort to incapacitate all electric systems and electronic devices.

reply to post by w3thepatient


If it's the law to worship the leader then I'm pretty sure the leader makes the rules and we should not judge by past NK leaders. Just MHO.

reply to post by superman2012


as you wish mate. i wont mess with your perspective.
I believe there is a collective leadership not a single decision maker/leader.


meanwhile...

DPRK Briefing Book: Nuclear Decision-Making Processes Nautilus Institute Special Report: North Korean Decision-Making Processes Regarding the Nuclear Issue Alexandre Mansourov Center for Korean Research at Columbia, May 1994.

South K military officials seem to be fairly relaxed...

Local newspapers have reported that dozens of teams of military officials, including generals, played golf at a military golf course on Saturday and Sunday, sparking criticism that it is wrong for them to play at a time when they need to be on standby to handle tensions with the North.

yonhap news

reply to post by w3thepatient


Well, we can't really tell how things are from the South let alone the North...how ever the media seems to be hyping up things...to some degree.

Or it could be a case of "slackness"

Also from your link...

"Cheong Wa Dae is paying particular attention to the issue of discipline slackening in public service," Yoon said. "The office of the senior civil affairs secretary has immediately launched an inquiry to determine what has exactly happened regarding the reports about military golf."

The one thing I think most people, our gov't included, are assuming that NK doesn't have the capability to do this and/or they are bluffing....again.

I think it is very dangerous to underestimate an enemy, especially when flouting nuclear weapons capability.

On the other hand, I have no doubts we could wipe his country off the map...just at what cost, and China would not sit idly by...so does the US do a preemptive strike if we feel he has the means and is ready to use it or do we let him shoot first and see what happens?

And what to do with China if they come to his aid????


Or is this kid a CIA puppet?

I just threw that last bit in there for purely hypothetical fun.

All these IMHO's on here calling for war. Threatening nations that haven't done anything again? As usual. Ooh we're going to have to invade because otherwise they might do something. What about this, what about that? We could do this if they do that. Oooh, nuclear mayhem hahahahah...


Go back to your basement and play your video games. There is no war unless you start one. By starting one, I mean ratcheting up the rhetoric that stirs up the war talk. What are you trying to accomplish... war? Shame on you.

Originally posted by intrptr
All these IMHO's on here calling for war. Threatening nations that haven't done anything again? As usual. Ooh we're going to have to invade because otherwise they might do something. What about this, what about that? We could do this if they do that. Oooh, nuclear mayhem hahahahah...

Go back to your basement and play your video games. There is no war unless you start one. By starting one, I mean ratcheting up the rhetoric that stirs up the war talk. What are you trying to accomplish... war? Shame on you.

Sure let's all go back to sleep and ignore all this...pffttt

Well, the idea of discussing is to be aware of the situation. Opinions are just opinions.

It may appear as war-mongering, but that's just your opinion...

Peace

There is only one reason why any nation develops nuclear weapons, for its own security. But by doing this it reduces the security of it neighbors. NK has very much had the option to peruse or decline its development of nukes. After seeing what happened to Saddam in Iraq their options for their security became diminished as global trust and alliances can quickly change.

At the end of the day NK wants the same thing as everybody else and that is to feel safe in their own environment. Frankly it is about time this ceasefire came to an end as this perpetual state of tension is doing no one any favors, except maybe some military contractors. What is needed is a long over due peace treaty, wither that be reunification, a two state solution or some other form of agreement to finally end hostilities, not just put them on hold for the next 50 to 60 years.

To sort out these problems does require a lot of negotiation, consultation and discussion as there are 1000's of problems that do need to be sorted out. Admittedly the issues of nukes is a tough one, but if all talk and trade is to stop on this first problem then there is no hope in hell for all the others to be sorted out. As NK becomes more isolated and desperate then the real risk of using their last resort does increase.

When faced with seemingly insurmountable problems start on a smaller piece of it. In time and as more of it starts to unravel you do become better equipped and better placed to take on the harder parts. If the global community does push NK into a corner where it has no other options then expect it to react like any other scared creature.

reply to post by kwakakev
Ok this is what DPRK would want
the right to have ICBM's
the right to have Satellite missiles
the South Korea Gov surrender to DPRK and become DPRK ruled,and see DC burn
the right to have Nukes and nuclear power
the right to sell nukes, Iran, Pakistan and other nations that would want the Nuke, still want DPRK to have all that??

reply to post by DarthMuerte


The same idiots advocating ending foreign aid and dismantling the UN (a body with no authority unless you concede to it, that is made up of a collective of states, rather than an independent organization itself) are advocating destroying an entire country using multiple nuclear bombs, for no reason.

There is no more or less an immediate threat of a North Korean attack than prior to the article released. If North Korea launch any form of attack, they certainly will not broadcast intention or allow any information to become public domain. If North Korea are truly gearing up for war, you will hear nothing and that is when it's time to worry, because it is that time that they are preparing to strike and to defend from a counter strike and so would not want any international eyes on them. This is just nothing more than what we usually get from North Korea when they have been once again pulled up with regards to their actions, you should be no more or less worried than you were prior to reading this article.

reply to post by Xarian6


I don't know that they have a lot to gain by this war. Maybe they could make some money selling arms to African and Mid East opposition, and sure NK might buy weapons and resources, but really I think they aren't in the position economically to give China money. The reason China allows them to exist is because they have a buffer between the Western backed South Korea, and they get slave labor and whatever else from NK.

I could see China letting NK fall as long as they got something out of the negotiations afterward. They would set up something like Hong Kong and still have their buffer to the Western world.

reply to post by Xarian6



You might be right. But...

theworld will change forever. = not one word



One word.. and it all goes to hell. = not one word.

Just to clear that up lol.

Naw I don´t buy it.. NK is full of crap. They won´t do #, they might do a little damage but all out war? No way!! On the other hand Kim jun ung/ill or whatever has totaly lost his marbles, so I guess there is a slight chance.

Originally posted by Xarian6
It means with one word, the world will change forever.

Regardless of folks opinions on the matter.. who'd win what and what not..

One word.. and it all goes to hell.

Cant say you didn't see this coming though....

It only "goes to hell" for NK. The Chinese are no longer too interested in backing the psychotic, panhandling Kims- they've got bigger fish to fry.

If NK attack SK, a lot of poor South Koreans will perish. Then, of course, NK will be expunged.

Having said that, I'd still wager this is all balderdash rhetoric and is nothing but a reaction by the North at the world more and more turning their backs on the land that time forgot.