North Korean nuclear crisis

[W.G.Ewald]

What happens if North Korea gets out of hand? Here are some scenarios - World News

How would North Korea attack?

Probably with a massive ground assault backed by artillery fire. That's because North Korea's standing military, according to the best U.S. and U.N. intelligence assessments, is the fourth largest in the world, at 1.1 million members. South Korea's, by contrast, is about 690,000 strong.

That ratio — a manpower superiority of roughly 3-to-2 for the North — is remarkably consistent across calculations of the countries' weaponry, too. By about the same proportion, the North has more tanks, more artillery, more planes, more ships, more missiles.

In a 2008 report commissioned by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress depicted North Korea as, in essence, one giant military installation...

How would South Korea respond?

By being smarter and nimbler.

Much of the North's equipment is seriously outdated, going back to its alliance with the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The South's weaponry is less extensive but far more advanced, thanks to modern equipment provided by the U.S.

"Overall, South Korea's armed forces have become one of the world's more capable militaries and present a formidable forward defense against any possible attack by North Korea," the British-based International Institute for Strategic Studies concluded in 2011.

All of that presumes that North Korean troops could make it into the South in the first place. To get there, they would have to go through about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed along the Demilitarized Zone separating the two countries, supported by about 40,000 more just a short hop away in Japan and on a large military base in Guam.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

In North Korea's sights: Baengnyeong islanders prepare for the worst | World news | guardian.co.uk

At its closest point the island, home to 5,000 civilians and a similar number of marines, lies just 10 miles from the North Korean coast. Located just south of the Northern Limit Line – a disputed Yellow Sea border separating the two countries – it has been the scene of several military exchanges of the kind that, in today's fraught atmosphere, could easily escalate.

The more alarmed residents point to their home's unenviable place at the centre of the world's last cold war conflict. In the past 14 years, the waters around Baengnyeong have been the focal point of more military clashes between the two Koreas than any other part of the peninsula. The sea border, which the North has refused to recognise since it was drawn up at the end of the 1950-53 Korean war, was the scene of deadly naval battles in 1999, 2002 and 2009.

 

[Yusuf]

The consensus seems to be that NK really does not have delivery systems even if they have nukes. But the West & particularly USA will placate the fat brat with grain or oil rather than put the heat on him, I believe.

My Way News - SKorea: North Korea moved missile to east coast

That's what even I have been saying. NoKo can't deliver nukes.

If US and SoKo can't use this opportunity to shut out NoKo, hey will never get one in the future as good as this.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

That's what even I have been saying. NoKo can't deliver nukes.

If US and SoKo can't use this opportunity to shut out NoKo, hey will never get one in the future as good as this.

We can't shut own North Korea, that is defeat it militarily, without getting into another "nation-building" exercise, and we can't afford it. So we'll let Yung 'un play his brinkmanship game.

 

[arnabmit]

Outsource "Nation Building" to SoKo this time.

We can't shut own North Korea, that is defeat it militarily, without getting into another "nation-building" exercise, and we can't afford it. So we'll let Yung 'un play his brinkmanship game.

 

[CCTV]

It is possible iff SK still exists.

 

[average american]

the nuclear information project: US Nuclear Weapons in Korea

USA may use tactical nuclear weapons to defend S Korea. for a long time had nuclear land mines in S Korea for that purpose.

 

[nrupatunga]

With no delivery systems in place, NoKo is in a way still a non-nuclear state. And if US goes for nuclear option now, it will set up a precedent. Everyone will come up with their own excuses to go nuclear (esp the likes of pakis).

 

[Yusuf]

With no delivery systems in place, NoKo is in a way still a non-nuclear state. And if US goes for nuclear option now, it will set up a precedent. Everyone will come up with their own excuses to go nuclear (esp the likes of pakis).

The US does not need to go nuclear.

 

[nrupatunga]

@Yusuf: It was in reference to what @average american had mentioned

USA may use tactical nuclear weapons to defend S Korea. for a long time had nuclear land mines in S Korea for that purpose.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

the nuclear information project: US Nuclear Weapons in Korea

USA may use tactical nuclear weapons to defend S Korea. for a long time had nuclear land mines in S Korea for that purpose.

the nuclear information project: withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from South Korea

The United States withdrew the last nuclear weapons from South Korea in December 1991. The initiative was a result of President George H. Bush's unilateral disarmament initiative in September 1991, which withdrew tactical nuclear weapons from all overseas locations, except air bombs from half a dozen NATO countries in Europe.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

North Korea nuclear war threat: US troops 'poised to respond' as madman Kim Jong Un says attack is 'authorised' | Mail Online

Today the United States also deployed a battalion of anti-nuke and biological warfare soldiers in a show of strength on the Korean peninsula.

Its display at a base north of Seoul came on a day of growing concern about the threat posed by the secretive communist state.

Display: Soldiers of the U.S. Army 23rd chemical battalion try out their equipment as they give a demonstration

U.S. anti-chemical battalion returns to S. Korea

 

[bose]

The only response to NK's madness is a intense use of battle field tactical nukes to quickly annihilation of NK's troops in 2 - 3 days of fighting...

South Korea with better anti ballistic missile shield should be able to neutralize the primitive NK's missiles... at least most of them...

The only worry will be the massive artillery barrage from NK's that will target Seoul...

 

[arnabmit]

@Yusuf

Is it possible the B-2 carried not nukes or MOAB in them? Can MOAB deal with the artillery advantage of NoKo?

 

[CCTV]

The US does not need to go nuclear.

You overlooked US....
The US is not more the US at 90's.

 

[Yusuf]

@Yusuf

Is it possible the B-2 carried not nukes or MOAB in them? Can MOAB deal with the artillery advantage of NoKo?

B2s carry conventional and nuclear weapons.

Tr thing is, if North Korea preempts a strike, it will open up its artillery and level Seoul in no time before SoKo and US even start to react. That will always be a risk.

 

[amoy]

Easing tensions?

Signs of North Korea Easing Off War Message at Home - Korea Real Time - WSJ

The re-appointment of Pak Pong Ju, an official considered to be a reform-minded, as North Korea's premier at Monday's parliament meeting has also increased speculation that the country will place more emphasis on trying to boost its moribund economy.

 

[CCTV]

There is no be no war.
you can just see how US served new Chinese ambassador today.

 

[SajeevJino]

The only response to NK's madness is a intense use of battle field tactical nukes to quickly annihilation of NK's troops in 2 - 3 days of fighting...

South Korea with better anti ballistic missile shield should be able to neutralize the primitive NK's missiles... at least most of them...

The only worry will be the massive artillery barrage from NK's that will target Seoul...

I don't think so they have Proper AD's ...Only CIWS is Believable others are just 20% success rate

If a Nuke tipped Airborne Vehicle Detonated on the Atmosphere or Intercepted by Soko AD's this will also create Havoc and Causing maximum Damage ..So we can't assume that when they going to Deliver it's Nuke weapons the When the War erupts they fire their every kind of weapons and If Noko go for First Strik their will be a KAOS on the Soko's..

 

[nrupatunga]

North Korea moves missile to east as nuclear crisis escalates

North Korea is moving a medium-range missile to a site in the east of the country, a U.S. intelligence official said Thursday as tensions with the nuclear-armed state continued to escalate.

The official declined to say where the Musudan missile was headed, but the North has used a site near the Russian border on the coast for its missile tests in the past.