I realize Kim is a nut-job, but is he really stupid enough to “launch” nuclear missiles at targets that are allies of the US? Surely he realizes that a good part of NK would be a glass parking lot in a matter of minutes.
The reality is that he expects Trump to behave like no-nuts Obama and to quell his saber-rattling with a couple of billion dollars like he did when Iran “promised” to cease their nuclear program. Kerry bragged about the deal and then we learn about the $400b paid out under the table and that the deal gave them a 30 day warning before inspections could take place. Given that level of US stupidity, why wouldn’t Kim expect the same type of deal. He forgot to factor in one important detail: Trump has a spine.
This is the perfect time for Xi to make an offer for comfortable exile on a secluded island getaway for Kim and family.
>>The reality is that he expects Trump to behave
The real reality is that Kim is a western media junkie and, like most foreigners, does not really understand the American psyche until they learn it by trial and error and error at the state leader level usually involves massive air strikes.
Look at Islam. They did their big attack at 9/11 and it did not turn out well for them. So, they adapted and realized that a failed and downright silly attack (underwear bomber) destroys our liberty much more than a 9/11 type of attack. They win by doing small things and giving our government an opportunity to enslave us a little more. They win by whining about Islamophobia and having our courts restrict Christianity in response.
So, back to Kim. He believes that 70% of the US does not approve of Trump, that he is a stupid TV star, that members of his own party are about to overthrow him (literally, like any other Banana Republic would do). If Kim makes noise, he thinks that the threats will speed up the end of Trump and a return to “civility in Washington”, which would be a great call to bring Obama back or to bring Hillary in from political exile after her loss (again, as they would do in a Banana Republic). And then, Kim thinks he can start demanding money again.
Bump.
I would bet that he could not identify the United States on a world map. The guy thinks he is God. Most of his citizens regard him as God. The only way this gets solved peacefully is if one of his generals takes him out during a meeting.
“Glass parking lot.” No glass parking lots were found after dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
North Korea has about 25 million people. It is a very poor country and it cannot feed all these people. In other words, they have a huge surplus of human beings. Suppose there is a war, even a nuclear war. Suppose North Korea loses 5 or 10 million. Kim looks at that as fewer mouths to feed. A win for him and he can blame it on the Americans.
From a Trident boat 500 miles offshore we could lob W88 warheads atop D5 missiles into any part of Norklandia in 6 minutes.
6 minutes to deliver up to 192, 475kt warheads with a CEP of <100 meters.
From a single boat.
It’s apparent they think we won’t do it.