North Korea threatens USA and South Korea with nuclear attacks

[Frostwraith]

North Korea has escalated its military and diplomatic confrontation with America, responding to US military drills with a bellicose declaration that its rockets were ready to hit American bases in the Pacific.

In the latest of a volley of military threats and purple rhetoric, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, warned that "the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists in view of the prevailing situation". The official KCNA news agency said Pyongyang and Washington could only settle their differences by "physical means".

The agency also released pictures of Kim and his senior generals huddled in front of a map showing strike possibilities on both US coasts. Pyongyang has rockets that could easily wreak carnage on Seoul, but its longer-range missiles that might hit US Pacific bases are unproven and experts are sceptical of the threats.

"He finally signed the plan on technical preparations of strategic rockets of the KPA (Korean People's army), ordering them to be on standby for fire so that they may strike any time the US mainland, its military bases in the operational theatres in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea," KCNA said.

Full news article here

What does North Korea hope to achieve with this?

 

[Shorts]

I just don't see how this is going to benefit Kim in anyway. North Korea itself will benefit from potentially being freed of it's god awful leader if Kim was to REALLY try something. Who knows, the people may actully enjoy more freedom, and you know, not living an absolute squalor.

 

[FalKoopa]

Well, the Anti-American sentiments were always high in North Korea, and the Government seems to be exploiting it. What North Korea hopes to achieve is beyond my comprehension, but I think they have plans and/or dream to control the whole of the Korean Peninsula.

 

[Frostwraith]

Well, the Anti-American sentiments were always high in North Korea, and the Government seems to be exploiting it.

That's true, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

What North Korea hopes to achieve is beyond my comprehension, but I think they have plans and/or dream to control the whole of the Korean Peninsula.

That's what both North and South Korea want. In fact, both countries claim the entire Korean Peninsula as their own.

 

[FalKoopa]

If a war does take place, I imagine it would go much the same way as the Iraq War...

 

[Frostwraith]

If a war does take place, I imagine it would go much the same way as the Iraq War...

Or even worse, with nukes involved.

Some have begun to theorize about a World War, but I don't think it reaches such an extreme conflict, considering that a grand majority of the countries in the world are opposed to North Korea.
Some are have more ambiguous positions, such as China, who could even remain neutral should a war start, which I really hope it doesn't happen.

 

[FalKoopa]

The case of a World War is an extreme hypothesis, considering most countries would be opposed to war in the first place, and even China and Russia are calling for restraint.

It's a case of wait and watch now, until further news comes... which I hope isn't about the breakout of a war.

 

[#HBC | Dark Horse]

Oh boy another north korean threat

How many times now?

 

[Frostwraith]

Seems that North Korea is taking one step further, as they have deployed a missile.

SEOUL—North Korea moved an intermediate-range missile to its east coast, likely for a test-firing or drill, South Korea's defense minister said Thursday, as tensions on the peninsula remained high.

Analysts said the missile could be launched this month as part of celebrations for North Korea's most important holiday, the April 15 anniversary of the birth of the country's founder, Kim Il Sung.

Also Thursday, North Korea blocked the entry of South Korean workers to the Kaesong Industrial Complex inside the North for a second day as it continues to pressure Seoul during South Korea's annual military exercises with the U.S. Factories in the park continued to operate and 220 workers arrived back in the South, but businesses were unable to send in staff and supplies.

While the missile doesn't pose a threat to the U.S. mainland, its likely trajectory toward Japan generated concern in Tokyo. North Korea tested missiles in 1998 and 2009 that flew over Japan's main island and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The missile path over Japan is North Korea's easiest route to the Pacific Ocean but is also seen by Tokyo as a major provocation.

"Japan has been working closely with the U.S. and South Korea, and is preparing to protect the safety of the Japanese people in even the worst-case scenario," said Yoshihide Suga, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said at a regular news conference when asked about the missile.

Full article here

 

[theeboredone]

Kim Jong Un reminds me of the little kid who brags to his friends (people and fellow military men) by talking a lot of smack to the big boys (US). But when it comes time to finally confront these big boys, he's stuck between actually going through with it, or coming back to his friends and being seen as a pansy.

Unfortunately, this situation can potentially endanger many lives...so I'm not sure where he stands with his ego.

 

[Holder of the Heel]

I wonder how many people are frightened about this...

 

[Shorts]

I wonder how many people are frightened about this...

If I was a South Korean I would be.

 

[FalKoopa]

I wonder how many people are frightened about this...

Japanese and South Koreans do have reasons to be frightened.

 

[Holder of the Heel]

I should have specified that I meant the United States. I'm framing that question because it seems like to everyone I've heard from on the internet finds it a joke and I've not heard from it elsewhere at all (granted I don't watch TV).

 

[FalKoopa]

From what I have read and heard, North Korea doesn't have the technology yet to attack mainland US.

 

[ndayday]

I should have specified that I meant the United States. I'm framing that question because it seems like to everyone I've heard from on the internet finds it a joke and I've not heard from it elsewhere at all (granted I don't watch TV).

Rightfully so, to many Americans the idea of them firing a missile and hitting the US is totally laughable. I don't watch TV either but the reports I've seen on YT just have looping footage of their failed missile launch attempts. War in the Koreas is scary, but I doubt anyone is scared that mainland US is gonna be attacked.

 

[theeboredone]

With North Korea being so closed off, it's often troubling to get detailed intel compared to other countries. So that "unknown" factor is what scares me the most. I mean, I can trust these analysts and what not on the news, but how many times do analysts get proven wrong? At the end of the day, the potential outcome is life being lost among other things. So you always have to be weary of it.

I don't think this is at Cold War - Cuban Missile Crisis levels, but it wouldn't surprise me if we got there.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

It sort of sucks because a roommate of mine from South Korea said he had to go and serve his two years of military service. I imagine he would have been finishing it up by now, but with how things are I am not sure if he has to stay longer or not.

As for us, I am worried, but not as much as I probably could be due to the thought that we have adequate means to stifle a war quickly without it spreading too far. Technology for defense against long range strikes should implemented pretty easily. With global coverage, its seems sort of hard to launch an attack without people knowing about it far in advance and having time to intercept. I am quite surprised actually that estimates are made that North Korea does not have the technology for long-range attacks.

 

[Frostwraith]

I think this image should be useful information if we want to debate on this matter further:
[collapse="Estimate range of the North Korean missiles"]

[/collapse]

And it seems that North Korea have taken their threats to a new level.
CBC News: North Korea urges foreigners to leave South Korea

 

[FalKoopa]

Looking at the map, only South Korea and Japan are at risk of a possible attack. And possibly, Alaska.

 

[Shorts]

Looking at the map, only South Korea and Japan are at risk of a possible attack. And possibly, Alaska.

Nooo, not our Kodiak Bears and Ice! Nooooo.

 

[Deleted member]

I talked with my friends about this topic. They said that the nuclear battle will not happen between North Korea and U.S.

 

[FalKoopa]

I talked with my friends about this topic. They said that the nuclear battle will not happen between North Korea and U.S.

That's kind of obvious. North Korea attacking U.S. is as good as suicide for Kim Jong Un's government.

 

[JoshCube2]

I have no sympathy for America getting hit by a nuke. Country's government is highly evil.