quote:

AP source: NKorea may be prepping new nuclear test

23 mins ago
WASHINGTON – A U.S. government official says North Korea may be preparing for its third nuclear test as the United Nations considers new sanctions on the dictatorship for conducting an underground nuclear explosion in May. Word of a possible new test comes from an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the information publicly.

North Korea conducted an underground explosion on May 25, its first since a 2006 atomic test.

A draft U.N. resolution proposed Wednesday would impose tough sanctions on North Korea's weapons exports and financial dealings and allow inspections of suspect cargo in ports and on the high seas. North Korea has threatened to retaliate if new sanctions are adopted...

quote:

Originally posted by strobelvets:
Personally, I think one might ask if this one is armed..and where they intend to "overfly" it...SK or Japan?

We should immediately announce the practice overflight of one of our SSBN "training" unarmed missiles from near Taiwan island...

Of course, We the People, cant guarantee that the unarmed missile might not cross the DMZ...

If it might, We, humbly and sincerely apologize..beforehand...

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixDark:
As I've said in another thread, I suspect that China will wind up taking Kim Jong Il down before we do.

quote:

My guess is...Russia and China would expect us not to react to a strike...and pacify the North Koreans at their behest...

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:

quote:

My guess is...Russia and China would expect us not to react to a strike...and pacify the North Koreans at their behest...

not this time, they are both getting pretty tired of "Dear Leader's" antics. China will put their foot down if the pot bellied pig detonates another one although its a great way to make an artificial lake...well, if you dont mind 2 headed fish....

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixDark:
As I've said in another thread, I suspect that China will wind up taking Kim Jong Il down before we do.

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:
If I was China I would quietly mobilize 2 million troops by air sea and land, take out the command and control systems as well as defensive systems and move from within and around and establish the country under Chinese control. run everything normally as the transition occurs and propagandize the citizenry with loyalists the masses will listen to. By giving a repressed and closed off country a few luxuries and freedom of movement along with Chinese assurances of prosperity the people would be mostly compliant.

DPRK would never expect it from its closest ally and as there are always a decent percentage of Chinese there slowly replace them with SF at critical stations prior to invasion allowing the command and control to be compromised from within would be relatively easy for them. There would be some risk to South Korea but it could be controlled.

As the POTUS I would probably get the security council to allow a blockade and push a resolution for pot belly to resign or a gradual increasing of pressure would begin. I would also use more pressure to get China to take the lead and stop economic assistance until they break. China wants the BS to stop as well, "encouraging" China to take the lead in stopping the DPRK government by giving assurance we would allow them to handle it "their way" would probably be all China needs to take care of the problem. They would rather contain the problem in North Korea rather than have a flood of refugees top deal with domestically.

quote:

NKorea: Will never give up nuclear ambitions
Kwang-tae Kim, Associated Press Writer – 43 mins ago
SEOUL, South Korea –(...)

The country also vowed never to give up its nuclear ambitions as a way to protect its sovereignty amid signs of preparations for naming its ailing leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son, Jong Un, as his successor.

Despite repeated assurances from Washington, North Korea has harbored deep-rooted suspicions that the U.S. could invade to topple its regime.

"It has become an absolutely impossible option for (North Korea) to even think about giving up its nuclear weapons," the North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea also warned that any attempted blockade by the U.S. and its allies would be regarded as "an act of war and met with a decisive military response."

The new threats came in response to tough new sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council over the North's second nuclear test on May 25.

The sanctions are aimed at depriving North Korea of the financing used to build its rogue nuclear program. The resolution also authorized searches of North Korean ships suspected of transporting illicit ballistic missile and nuclear materials.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said Friday that Washington is prepared to confront ships believed to be carrying contraband materials to North Korea but will not try to forcibly board them.

Rice said it would not be surprising if North Korea reacted to the sanctions with "further provocation."

In a move that could further escalate the nuclear standoff with the U.S., North Korea also said it has reprocessed more than a third of its spent nuclear fuel rods and vowed to weaponize its new plutonium, a key ingredient of atomic bombs along with enriched uranium.

North Korea is believed to have about 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of plutonium, enough for a half dozen bombs, said Yoon Deok-min, a professor at South Korea's state-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.

Reprocessing 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods stored at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex could yield an additional 18 to 22 pounds (8-10 kilograms) of plutonium — enough to make at least one more atomic bomb, he said.

(...)

North Korea has said it will test a long-range missile and is suspected of preparing for a third nuclear test, but there is no evidence that either is imminent.

Meanwhile, South Korea's top admiral expressed a firm intention to fight back against any North Korean provocations along their disputed western sea border, saying another deadly naval skirmish could occur in the area, where there were deadly naval clashes in 1999 and 2002.

As a precaution, South Korea has dispatched hundreds more marines to two islands near the maritime border.

(...)

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:
If I was China I would quietly mobilize 2 million troops by air sea and land, take out the command and control systems as well as defensive systems and move from within and around and establish the country under Chinese control. run everything normally as the transition occurs and propagandize the citizenry with loyalists the masses will listen to. By giving a repressed and closed off country a few luxuries and freedom of movement along with Chinese assurances of prosperity the people would be mostly compliant.

DPRK would never expect it from its closest ally and as there are always a decent percentage of Chinese there slowly replace them with SF at critical stations prior to invasion allowing the command and control to be compromised from within would be relatively easy for them. There would be some risk to South Korea but it could be controlled.

As the POTUS I would probably get the security council to allow a blockade and push a resolution for pot belly to resign or a gradual increasing of pressure would begin. I would also use more pressure to get China to take the lead and stop economic assistance until they break. China wants the BS to stop as well, "encouraging" China to take the lead in stopping the DPRK government by giving assurance we would allow them to handle it "their way" would probably be all China needs to take care of the problem. They would rather contain the problem in North Korea rather than have a flood of refugees top deal with domestically.

quote:

Originally posted by Ol_Doc:

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:
If I was China I would quietly mobilize 2 million troops by air sea and land, take out the command and control systems as well as defensive systems and move from within and around and establish the country under Chinese control. run everything normally as the transition occurs and propagandize the citizenry with loyalists the masses will listen to. By giving a repressed and closed off country a few luxuries and freedom of movement along with Chinese assurances of prosperity the people would be mostly compliant.

DPRK would never expect it from its closest ally and as there are always a decent percentage of Chinese there slowly replace them with SF at critical stations prior to invasion allowing the command and control to be compromised from within would be relatively easy for them. There would be some risk to South Korea but it could be controlled.

As the POTUS I would probably get the security council to allow a blockade and push a resolution for pot belly to resign or a gradual increasing of pressure would begin. I would also use more pressure to get China to take the lead and stop economic assistance until they break. China wants the BS to stop as well, "encouraging" China to take the lead in stopping the DPRK government by giving assurance we would allow them to handle it "their way" would probably be all China needs to take care of the problem. They would rather contain the problem in North Korea rather than have a flood of refugees top deal with domestically.

Holy crap Flanker...I can't believe we actually agree on something. This bag of worms is clearly in China's court.

quote:

Originally posted by strobelvets:

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:

quote:

My guess is...Russia and China would expect us not to react to a strike...and pacify the North Koreans at their behest...

not this time, they are both getting pretty tired of "Dear Leader's" antics. China will put their foot down if the pot bellied pig detonates another one although its a great way to make an artificial lake...well, if you dont mind 2 headed fish....

Copy that. How would YOU handle a new missile launch towards SK or Japan from NK at this time?

quote:

...not that you asked me, but I would take any system out on the launch pad from now on....a stealth raid with smart weapons.....but I'm known to be aggressive Big Grin

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Holy crap Flanker...I can't believe we actually agree on something. This bag of worms is clearly in China's court.

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The Chinese would much prefer us having to deal with them. Which is not to say that they have any use for the Great Leader

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:

quote:

...not that you asked me, but I would take any system out on the launch pad from now on....a stealth raid with smart weapons.....but I'm known to be aggressive Big Grin

I take Paxil for the aggressive tendencies otherwise I would probably already have national fame as a serial killer

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:
I agree with that, Dave. If pot belly attacks Seoul first then hit em back and crush him and as an ally the USA is obliged to do just that.