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U.S. Tells North Korea It Is Prepared to Go to War
WSJ ^ | 07/05/17 | Jonathan Cheng

Posted on 07/05/2017 11:37:10 AM PDT by Enlightened1

Pyongyang claims a further breakthrough toward a nuclear-tipped missile that can reach American cities

SEOUL—The U.S. warned North Korea that it is ready to fight if provoked, as Pyongyang claimed another weapons-development breakthrough following its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile a day earlier.

The regime, having demonstrated its capacity to reach the U.S. with a missile, on Wednesday touted another achievement of the test launch: It claimed that its missile warhead—the forward section, which carries the explosive—can withstand the extreme heat and pressure of re-entering the earth’s atmosphere.

If true—the claim couldn’t be independently verified—that would clear another hurdle in developing a nuclear-tipped missile that can reach American cities.

As tensions between Washington and Pyongyang rose, Gen. Vincent Brooks, the top American military commander in South Korea, said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. and South Korea are prepared to go to war with the North if given the order.

Earlier in the day, allied armies conducted a rare live-fire drill, launching tactical surface-to-surface missiles off the east coast of Korea—an action they said was aimed directly at “countering North Korea’s destabilizing and unlawful actions on July 4.”

The drill and tough language appeared meant to reassure Seoul after North Korea’s successful ICBM test, a significant advance.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described the development as an escalation of the threat to the U.S. It came despite years of sanctions and warnings aimed at preventing Kim Jong Un’s regime from reaching the milestone.

Washington has considered military action against North Korea, but pulling the trigger presents serious risks. Seoul, a city of 10 million, sits just 35 miles from the North Korean border, where Pyongyang has assembled artillery that could inflict devastating damage on the densely populated South Korean capital.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: nknukes; northkorea; prepared; second100days; trump45; trumpasia; us; war
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To: Enlightened1

When is the NORKS next big parade? Target a few dozen cruise missiles at the dignitaries grandstands and cut the head off the snake.


41 posted on 07/05/2017 3:30:29 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: vooch
best to ignore him

We've been ignoring him. Now he has nuclear ICBMs. Shall we continue?

42 posted on 07/05/2017 3:32:42 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: Enlightened1

Let’s just offer some NK’s $100,000,000 for the fat kids head.
Then put them in power.
Art of the deal


43 posted on 07/05/2017 3:34:50 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (I don't want better government; I want much less of it.)
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To: Enlightened1

south korea should be warned that it may soon become an island nation roughly 200 miles off the coast of mainland china

go mad dog


44 posted on 07/05/2017 3:41:04 PM PDT by TheRightGuy (I want MY BAILOUT ... a billion or two should do!)
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To: Mariner

“Short and happy life” is what they said about the huge fleet of Naval guns that pounded the beaches of Normandy.

And then there was the 26,000 American casualties on Okinawa.

Sounds like a tactical nuke is the way to go.


45 posted on 07/05/2017 3:41:55 PM PDT by poconopundit (FR: Self-Reliant Lovers of Liberty who can't stop the Chatter)
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To: Mariner

Oops I misstated. I meant Iwo Jima not Okinawa.


46 posted on 07/05/2017 3:44:21 PM PDT by poconopundit (FR: Self-Reliant Lovers of Liberty who can't stop the Chatter)
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To: spetznaz

He’s got the MOAB which can suck all the air right out of a lot of caves in a mountain range.


47 posted on 07/05/2017 3:49:11 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Smoke does not mean fire when someone threw a smoke grenade.)
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To: justa-hairyape

I got a feeling China will take a strong trade action with NK within the week. Trump is pushing them.

Anybody agree with my hunch?


48 posted on 07/05/2017 3:49:20 PM PDT by poconopundit (FR: Self-Reliant Lovers of Liberty who can't stop the Chatter)
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To: Enlightened1

China should invite Kim Jong Un to stop by for a meeting and some fun.
Kim Jong Un never returns and is never seen again..... easy.


49 posted on 07/05/2017 4:09:59 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Enlightened1

“U.S. Tells North Korea It Is Prepared to Go to War”

WSJ Trotskyite neo-cons not prepared to go to war, but are willing to send your sons and daughters to die for their profit and glory.


50 posted on 07/05/2017 4:43:55 PM PDT by sergeantdave
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To: poconopundit

What does trade have to do with a state of war. They stated the missile was a gift to the US.


51 posted on 07/05/2017 5:54:01 PM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: Mariner

Ir I heard correctly Seoul has +27 Million people


52 posted on 07/05/2017 10:39:14 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (I remember when 100% of scientists agreed there were only 2 genders.)
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To: Future Snake Eater

dude

we have been provoking him for quite a long time. He’s just the little fat kid in junior high trying to gain attention. The Japs and South Koreans know the neighborhood better than we do, and they don’t react to his trolling.

I say America First, let the locals deal with the Norks.


53 posted on 07/05/2017 10:51:48 PM PDT by vooch (America First)
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To: Mariner; Cobra64
Please identify the artillery with such range.

I had already identified the main artillery that could reach out and touch Seoul in my previous post, namely the Koksan self-propelled gun. The article you posted to me (stating that NK cannot flatten Seoul) actually identifies another ...the M-1985 rocket launcher, so those are two identified by your article that can reach Seoul.

What I like about FR is that people can debate an issue at will and using logic (unlike other places where things quickly deteriorate), so let me give a proper response. Also, apologies for my sarcasm in my initial post where I kept referencing 'lies.' That was unnecessary.

On the article you sent - they make salient points, but they miss the main point. It is not about 'flattening Seoul' (even Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not 'flattened' entirely), but rather the ability to wreak astounding damage in the time before sufficient action can be taken to silence the guns. The article - if I use its worst case scenario where they assume of the 13,000 guns only 700 can reach Seoul, where they assume only 2/3rds of those 700 will work, and where 25% of shells/rockets fired fail to detonate on impact. Even with that, the article you posted estimates that there will be 2,700 shells/rockets hitting Seoul per minute, resulting in 2,800 dead per minute.

That is almost the same number as people killed in 9/11 ...per minute, and that is using the article's scenario where things are not working well. First day losses according to that article is 64,000 dead. Note though that the article is looking at explosive shells. South Korean military planning expects that a number of incoming artillery will have poison gas, meaning that the number of dead could be much higher than that.

Anyway, while I agree that North Korea will not 'flatten' Seoul, it will definitely be able to do enough damage to make it a theoretical discussion.

What is more important though is the need for the world to do something. Every five years that pass reveal significant advancements by Pyongyang. Their offensive capabilities will continue to develop, and the number of lives they can 'touch' will continue to increase. Something will need to be done, otherwise what will happen is that in the future it will just be a more difficult situation to deal with. Eventually either the Kim dynasty will need to be removed, or there will be a reawakening of war with North Korea (a restart since it never really ended). It will happen ...the question is does it get done five years ago, now, or five years from now? Five years ago is impossible, so the decision is between now or the future.

It will be significantly more difficult in the future.

54 posted on 07/06/2017 12:58:52 AM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
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To: vooch
The Japs and South Koreans know the neighborhood better than we do, and they don’t react to his trolling.

Do you think that could be b/c Japan and SK know we'll handle it for them?

I say America First, let the locals deal with the Norks.

And when the Norks start dealing with us?

55 posted on 07/06/2017 5:38:39 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: spetznaz

Correct.
The choice for the US policy makers is considerable damage to Seoul and loss of life...or, a US city.

Easy choice.

Sucks to be a Korean in Seoul.


56 posted on 07/06/2017 7:26:30 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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