Posted on 03/20/2017 5:46:33 PM PDT by MtnClimber
There is a growing consensus that the first genuine crisis of Donald Trump’s presidency could involve North Korea and, more specifically, its ability to place a nuclear warhead on one or more ballistic missiles possessing sufficient range and accuracy to reach the continental United States. .....
One option would be simply to accept as inevitable continued increases in the quantity and quality of North Korea’s nuclear and missile inventories. The US, South Korea, and Japan would fall back on a combination of missile defence and deterrence.
The problem is that missile defence is imperfect, and deterrence is uncertain. The only certainty is that the failure of either would result in unimaginable costs. In these circumstances, Japan and South Korea might reconsider whether they, too, require nuclear weapons, raising the risk of a new and potentially destabilising arms race in the region.
A second set of options would employ military force, either against a gathering North Korean threat or one judged to be imminent. One problem with this approach is uncertainty as to whether military strikes could destroy all of the North’s missiles and warheads. But even if they could, North Korea would probably retaliate with conventional military forces against South Korea. Given that Seoul and US troops stationed in South Korea are well within range of thousands of artillery pieces, the toll in lives and physical damage would be immense. The new South Korean government (which will take office in two months) is sure to resist any action that could trigger such a scenario.
Some therefore opt for regime change, hoping that a different North Korean leadership might prove to be more reasonable.
(Excerpt) Read more at aspistrategist.org.au ...
No good options. Getting China involved may be another option to put pressure on the crazy Kim family or even to take him out.
it’s time to take the ONE fat North Korean out. He’s pretty easy to spot in a country of lean undernourished people.
If the Norks get nuked, the fat one will burn for a long time.
Back in 1968, William R. Van Cleave and Robert M. Lawrence wrote an article in National Review in which they discussed the concept of “assertive disarmament,” or in other words, “bombing the bomb.” We just might have to assertively disarm North Korea.
NK is linked at the hip with China.
The sooner we understand, the better.
Russia, too.
OR...
We could send messages to our “secret agents” in North Korea who claim are very, very close to fat Kim. It is even said, these :agents” are part of fat Kim’s innermost, most loyal, circle.
Obviously fat Kim trusts these yes-men and wold never, never suspect the danger he is facing...
I mean, these “agents” are almost like “family”, aren’t they?
‘Nuff said”?
Regime change cannot occur within the framework of the NK government. It is a familial dynasty. There are no heirs available. The death of the current leader would throw the entire government into permanent chaos and utter ruin. Kim Jong-un has assassinated his brother and consolidated power through the murder of select family members. He has ensured that no heirs currently exist. Clearly, his demise would end the dynastic horror of his family’s murderous regime.
The recently assassinated half brother has a son.
China is really the only actor that can take Kim out (probably through assassination) and replace him. The only reason N. Korea exists is China needs a buffer state between itself and S. Korea (and by extension, the U.S.). We need some sort of agreement that if China “replaces” Kim with a more rational leader, the U.S., S. Korea and Japan will respect N. Korea’s sovereignty. China would then dismantle N. Korea’s nuclear capability and S. Korea and the U.S. would pull the THAAD missiles out of S. Korea.
North Korea is China’s junkyard dog. While we’re worrying about what Kim might do, China is getting away with all kinds of stuff. Frankly, until North Korea actually lobs one China will do absolutely nothing.
Japan can ‘export’ it’s million or so ethnic Koreans. They can integrate the country with the west (+the South). I’d like to see the South take in their ‘kin’.
Good to know.
we keep bearing the load and we keeptaking the hits.
Where the heck is the rest of the world on this ? Specifically the U.N. ?
Both Koreas are U.N. members and S. Korea is a Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Time for Pres. Trump to tell the U.N. the same thing he told Germany.
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