Do you think tensions will rise between the United States and North Korea?

2015-01-28 19:43:33 -0500

"North Korea has long been a thorn in the West's side. The communist state has test-fired missiles, launched satellites into outer space and conducted nuclear weapon tests, all seemingly in the interest of vexing its southern neighbour and Western enemies.

In recent years, Pyongyang has expressed anger over joint South Korean-U.S. military exercises, as well as tightened UN sanctions after its February 2013 nuclear test. The rhetoric has since cooled somewhat, but the situation continues to be volatile."

(Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/north-korea-dashboard/)

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Jan 28 at 2015 8:24 PM

2015-01-28 20:24:52 -0500

Rise?

I've been studying the DPRK since I happened on the nightly Radio Pyongyang English broadcasts back around 1979. Kim Il-sung's "dangerously crazy" strategy has altered little through three generations of the Kim Dynasty.

"Tension" is one of the primary arrows in their quiver, and they have lots of experience playing other political entities like a Seven-dollar Stella.

Response by PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) made Jan 29 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-01-29 00:16:03 -0500

If someone asked me which country I was scared of the most, I would tell you N Korea. N. Korea scares me not because they have the largest foot army, but because their leader
Is psychotic.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 7:57 AM

2015-01-29 07:57:04 -0500

For decades now, NK/DPRK has made a living out of ratcheting up the tension/fear levels enough so that the international community gives them fuel oil and food (humanitarian aid) and things settle down until they need more humanitarian aid, and then the whole process begins anew. As was said before, they will agree to talks with the West, but then some little detail will derail the entire thing and the tension/fear and appeasement cycle begins anew. This game is not new, and anyone who does even a cursory study on the history of NK will see this pattern as clear as day.

As for their capabilities, they are irrelevant. In a purely military sense, they are much like the Soviet Army was... They could mobilize and get on the road very rapidly, but due to lack of logistical support and lack of maintenance, they could not operate for more than a day.

The truth of the entire thing is that they will never make the first move militarily. Why? Because the goal of the Kim family is to stay in power forever. Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il knew it, and now Kim Jong Un knows that any major aggression towards South Korea and/or the US means an immediate and permanent end to the family dynasty, the DPRK military, and the entirety of NK/DPRK. This is not in question. Thus, they may make a lot of threats, and do dumb stuff on their side of the DMZ, and even shoot missiles over Japan, but they will never step foot across the 38th Parallel. It's total suicide in every sense for the Kim family and the DPRK in general.

So when you get worried about North Korea starting a war, don't. It won't happen unless there is a military coup and a madman gets control of the country. It's all saber-rattling and political showmanship with some brinksmanship thrown in there. But the pattern is the same, and it is reliable as a Swiss watch.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jan 29 at 2015 9:42 AM

2015-01-29 09:42:33 -0500

Yes, tension is rising every day between U.S and North Korea, NK is trying to wait for the right moment to deliver a knockout punch to us.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 29 at 2015 9:43 AM

2015-01-29 09:43:28 -0500

Tensions will rise between the US & NK in the same way they rise between an 18 year old and a toddler.

NK can't hurt us. They are a pissant country on the far side of the globe, and the only reason we care about them is because they border South Korea.

Our biggest issue is if we have to go in their for Humanitarian Assistance, not for actual Conflict. The rest is posturing. They are the figurative child in the back of the car saying "he's touching me" over and over again trying to get us to say "Don't make me pull this globe over" just to make themselves relevant.

"If" and it's a big if, they were to try anything, we could (not would), use the President's discretionary powers of 90 days to bomb them back into the stone age. Or more conservative, just take out every piece of technology more advanced than a Nintendo.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-01-29 10:56:53 -0500

If you think tensions will rise, visit the DMZ. You'll realize that tensions can't get much higher. Also, if you look at the last 65 years, you'll see 65 years of high tensions where the line between armed conflict and calm has been blurred beyond recognition.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 11:08 AM

2015-01-29 11:08:52 -0500

We do annual exercises with South Korea. Every year, DPRK claims it's an act of aggression. Same thing, different day.

The bigger issue is the human rights violations going on every day in DPRK. I highly recommend watching the PBS Frontline Story "The Secret State of North Korea." It is on Netflix.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jan 29 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-01-29 11:18:05 -0500

Never above a simmer because Kim Jung Fat Fuck is as lame-ass as his old man. Grandpa was only true formidable foe because he had China's true backing from the 50s - 70s. Everything North Korea does is only a "show of farce" for the "great leader" to look good in front of his starving minions. They know everyone would bomb them back to the stone age, which for them is not too far, if they really did something. Dennis Rodman is the one I'm most worried about and that isn't saying much.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-01-29 11:43:34 -0500

nK has always had an issue with how the war ended up. They spend so much of their resources on their military, while continue to oppress their people. They will continue to walk (or even run) up to "the line", may throw a stone across it, but as soon as the West says they'll pay the "extortion" price to keep them at bay (and possibly keep the leadership in power), it will likely continue the back-and-forth until something changes significantly in Pyongyang. Will that be when they manage to outfit an ICBM with a nuke? Perhaps. But while they might be able to overwhelm the ROK with their army, any destruction to the South's infrastructure would only be self-defeating.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Feb 26 at 2017 3:34 AM

2017-02-26 03:34:19 -0500

I think it is building to a crisis point.