How Do You Solve a Problem Like Korea?

Someone who failed Science GCSE wrote that and confused horizontal range with altitude!

The DPRK have been producing viable missiles for years – the now venerable Scud missile originated there. Given times have moved forward 25 years or so it would not surprise me to learn that they now have one or two rockets capable of ICBM range – accuracy and reliability is however far more questionable. It is also questionable whether they have yet miniaturised their nuclear weapons to the extent that they fit on such a rocket. IRBMs are a different and far more thorny issue – they have demonstrated such rockets both for land and submarine based assets, they may well be nuclear capable The shorter range missiles could cause immense damage in the Japan/ROK/Pac Islands area and there is a remote possibility that even Hawaii could be threatened by their submarine based rockets.

You raised a much more thorny question with  your post heading. Heavy weight first-strike military options by the US are restricted by the knowledge that the consequent DPRK retaliation would cripple South Korea, severely hurt Japan and maybe eliminate the major US staging posts in Okinawa and Guam. It may even drag a reluctant China into armed opposition. The US had real diplomatic opportunities in the 90s (a coal for food program), but stupid hawks in the US Senate blew that chance, and the DPRK then escalated and hardened their position following the TBLiar/Bush illegal invasion of Iraq. Asians have long memories and I think would completely distrust approaches by the US

Realistically the US can do little without risking a major damaging conflict, they can only encourage China to try and find moves to de-escalate tensions then take it from there. It may be that Russia could be the best hope of an ‘honest’ broker to kick things off – they still have good relations with both the DPRK and China.

I suspect that it is unlikely that a problem like North Korea can be ‘solved’ in the normal sense. One has simply to hope that their apparent ravings are not the whole story and that this is simply a ploy to annoy others. Their rancid out pourings against just about everyone while expecting their fat lump to be revered by the rest of the world more or less takes the biscuit – which is more than many in North Korea had for their evening meal tonight.

Perhaps it is best to ignore them with some very quite responses as was it FDR once said, walk softly but carry a big stick. Do not hit North Korea, do not respond to them at all, but be ready to flatten them if they do something even more stupid than usual.

Meanwhile let life go on as normal all about them.

Bob, sadly the forces of nature rarely appear to be on the side of the good, though I do like your idea. Even more sadly Trump is a lost cause I wonder how the week will unfold for him in the Senate?

Me. I’m playing Atari Missile Command.

Ed P wrote:

The Duke wrote:

a good old subvert US lead coup is probably on cards. I love a good thriller.

I think if you are even vaguely suspected of being involved in planning for a coup then you will end up like the poor sod at KL airport, a swift whiff of Tabun, Sarin or Vx up your nose. In all probably the same then happens to the next couple of levels of your friends, family and colleagues. After 60 years or so of autocratic rule and brain-washing in schools I think a coup option is currently unlikely.

Horribly true, some appear to be terminated just to encourage the others not to try.. Internal dissents are unlikely to prevail, ever. It is not just the poison gas some are used as crash test dummies for missiles, rapid firing guns, etc.

The leadership cult needs to have a mind implant, sorry change.

Even if the US drops US dollar bills they are valueless as the DPRK have probably one of the best dollar bill forgery set-ups in the world. link

He may well be one for all we know.

Both the same geeza ain’t they. Just a different frock.