THIS JUST IN: N. Korea is bat shit crazy.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528880,00.html

(zomg fox news)



Wednesday, June 24, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map as Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of missiles in the coming days.

Off China's coast, a U.S. destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Burma in what could be the first test of U.N. sanctions passed to punish the nation for an underground nuclear test last month.

The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago with the USS John S. McCain close behind. The ship, accused of transporting banned goods in the past, is believed bound for Burma, according to South Korean and U.S. officials.

The new U.N. Security Council resolution requires member states to seek permission to inspect suspicious cargo. North Korea has said it would consider interception a declaration of war and on Wednesday accused the U.S. of seeking to provoke another Korean War.

"If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will ... wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The warning came on the eve of the 59th anniversary of the start of the three-year Korean War, which ended in a truce in 1953, not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in state of war.

The U.S. has 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect against an outbreak of hostilities.

Tensions have been high since North Korea launched a long-range rocket in April and then conducted its second underground atomic test on May 25.

Reacting to U.N. condemnation of that test, North Korea walked away from nuclear disarmament talks and warned it would fire a long-range missile.

North Korea has banned ships from the waters off its east coast starting Thursday through July 10 for military exercises, Japan's Coast Guard said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday that the North may fire a Scud missile with a range of up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) or a short-range ground-to-ship missile with a range of 100 miles (160 kilometers) during the no-sail period.

A senior South Korean government official said the no-sail ban is believed connected to North Korean plans to fire short- or mid-range missiles. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

U.S. defense and counterproliferation officials in Washington said they also expected the North to launch short- to medium-range missiles. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

South Korea will expedite the introduction of high-tech unmanned aerial surveillance systems and "bunker-buster" bombs in response to North Korea's provocations, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said, citing unidentified ruling party members.

Meanwhile, a flurry of diplomatic efforts were under way to try getting North Korea to return to disarmament talks.

Russia's top nuclear envoy, Alexei Borodavkin, said after meeting with his South Korean counterpart that Moscow is open to other formats for discussion since Pyongyang has pulled out of formal six-nation negotiations.

In Beijing, top U.S. and Chinese defense officials also discussed North Korea. U.S. Defense Undersecretary Michele Flournoy was heading next to Tokyo and Seoul for talks.

South Korea has proposed high-level "consultations" to discuss North Korea with the U.S., Russia, China and Japan.

I know this is super shocking and all.

North Korea is coming off as having a serious death wish.

[Parkbandit]

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc201/tpmunro/blast.jpg

[Sean of the Thread]

I just read about this off the AP. They're seriously fucked. We are spread thin and only have 28,000 troops there however. If I could pass a physical I'd be there in a heartbeat if the shit goes down.

[Jorddyn]

If I could pass a physical I'd be there in a heartbeat if the shit goes down.

Given the strain on our current troops, I imagine if we open another war, the physical will go something like:

1. Are you breathing?
2. Are you straight?

Answer yes to both, and get a free ticket to Korea!

[NocturnalRob]

Given the strain on our current troops, I imagine if we open another war, the physical will go something like:

1. Are you breathing?
2. Are you straight?

Answer yes to both, and get a free ticket to Korea!
Nah, send all the gays to N. Korea.

also:
"If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will ... wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all," the official Korean Central News Agency said.
is this a misquote/mistranslated/retarded?

[Androidpk]

There may only be around 28,000 US soldiers in South Korea but there are over 1000 nukes split between SK and Japan. Not to mention the deployed B-2s. With combat operations in Iraq slowing down, a war with North Korea is well within the military's capabilities.

[AnticorRifling]

I didn't think war was ever declared the first time..I'll have to dust off my history knowledge or lack there of.

[BriarFox]

I think they've all just bought too far into their own insane, self-aggrandizing rhetoric.

[Atlanteax]

I didn't think war was ever declared the first time..I'll have to dust off my history knowledge or lack there of.

More like the war has yet to be formally ended.

[radamanthys]

Yea, the war is sort of not over, and never was.

Anyone wanna make a remake of "Flight of the Valkyries" that works with Predators and Reapers?

[Warriorbird]

We don't go to war against countries with weapons of mass destruction.

...and North Korea has always been crazy. Old news is old. They threaten this shit till somebody gives them cash.

[Atlanteax]

We don't go to war against countries with weapons of mass destruction.

...and North Korea has always been crazy. Old news is old. They threaten this shit till somebody gives them cash.

Which is why Iran is trying to develop their own program...

We will need to break that illusion at some point, so we may as well find ourselves "resolving" the NK issue at some point.

[radamanthys]

I don't suggest curb-stomping NK until they actually do something.

But what if they do? What shall we do if they hit SK or Japan (We already know what we'd do if they hit us)?

[AnticorRifling]

I don't suggest curb-stomping NK until they actually do something.

But what if they do? What shall we do if they hit SK or Japan (We already know what we'd do if they hit us)?
If they hit SK or Japan we wait for that government to say "Herro prease come help us prease." Then we move.

[NocturnalRob]

Japanese penis vely smarr, Amelican penis huuuuuge

[Atlanteax]

But but but... if we wait for NK to attack SK, and wipe out Seoul ... Blizzard is borked. =(

[Cephalopod]

http://www.solopassion.com/files/ronery_2.jpg

[Martaigne]

The modern military sniper rifle is a wonder. That's really all I have to say.

[ViridianAsp]

More like the war has yet to be formally ended.

Looks like they're gunning for it. I mean what better way to say "All right let's end this!" with threatening the world with a nuclear attack?

Woohoo! Sucks to be me...STILL living on the west coast, I need to get the fuck out of here.

[radamanthys]

Hawaii would be more of an issue, I think.

[Methais]

But but but... if we wait for NK to attack SK, and wipe out Seoul ... Blizzard is borked. =(

I bet they'll think twice about nerfing mages again though.

[ViridianAsp]

Hawaii would be more of an issue, I think.

Yeah. Till they blow up California!


Honestly though, I don't believe they'll even get a missile this close.

[radamanthys]

Yeah. Till they blow up California!


Honestly though, I don't believe they'll even get a missile this close.

I doubt it. The suppression efforts in place are probably sufficient to stop anything they could throw at us, other than small rocks.

It'd be sneaking it in (or selling to someone who would) that we would worry about.

[The Ponzzz]

I bet they'll think twice about nerfing mages again though.

:lol2:

[Kuyuk]

<<There may only be around 28,000 US soldiers in South Korea but there are over 1000 nukes split between SK and Japan. Not to mention the deployed B-2s. With combat operations in Iraq slowing down, a war with North Korea is well within the military's capabilities.>>


umm, no.

N. Korea has over 1.2 million military troops.... we only have 1.3 million...

Unless you mean we just nuke their country and wipe out all the civilians as well?


K.

[diethx]

Japanese penis vely smarr, Amelican penis huuuuuge

VEDY BEEG PEENIS!

[nub]

Along the sniper rifle post, I don't get why we don't do something like that.

In 1953 Britain + U.S.A. were able to put into power a new regime in Iran, why can't we do it in North Korea. In the case of North Korea I would completely support as the people are severely depressed there. What we did in Iran with Britain was very stupid as Britain was just mad they weren't making profits from Iran oil anymore.

(then again I guess there was a problem with Russia trying to impose their will as well... that's how Britain convinced the U.S. to join.)

But seriously, why doesn't anyone infiltrate N. Korea... or is it that dangerous.

[DoctorUnne]

Did you see the Iron Lotus? North Koreans are crazy

[Shon]

Just if people are interested, here are general war plans from the two sides:

United States/South Korea

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oplan-5027.htm

North Korea

http://www.rense.com/general37/nkorr.htm

[Parkbandit]

Along the sniper rifle post, I don't get why we don't do something like that.

In 1953 Britain + U.S.A. were able to put into power a new regime in Iran, why can't we do it in North Korea. In the case of North Korea I would completely support as the people are severely depressed there. What we did in Iran with Britain was very stupid as Britain was just mad they weren't making profits from Iran oil anymore.

(then again I guess there was a problem with Russia trying to impose their will as well... that's how Britain convinced the U.S. to join.)

But seriously, why doesn't anyone infiltrate N. Korea... or is it that dangerous.

There is a small, tiny country directly to the north of North Korea. You might have heard of it.. China?

[Stunseed]

One nuke sent to NK gives them a parking garage. It's win for both sides.

[Lulfas]

umm, no.

N. Korea has over 1.2 million military troops.... we only have 1.3 million...

Unless you mean we just nuke their country and wipe out all the civilians as well?


K.

About the same mix of forces as Iraq. The actual military part there took... 2 weeks?

Pure numbers don't matter when someone in a bomber kills your troops a thousand at a time.

[ViridianAsp]

There is a small, tiny country directly to the north of North Korea. You might have heard of it.. China?

Yeah, seriously. We don't exactly want to piss China off...if you hadn't noticed they're pretty fucking big...and we need them to make our goods.

[TheLastShamurai]

Yeah, seriously. We don't exactly want to piss China off...if you hadn't noticed they're pretty fucking big...and we need them to make our goods.

And give us money.

[NocturnalRob]

And loan us money
fixed

[radamanthys]

KJI must be pretty hard to locate. We have the technology, and all.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

China has made it pretty clear that they don't like what North Korea is doing. Unlike North Korea, China has a working relationship with the rest of the world and does stand to lose something.

I actually think that were North Korea to do something as utterly stupid as fire a missile at SK, Japan or any other country, China or Russia would be the first to respond. North Korea is for all intents and purposes a worthless ally for them and they have far more to gain by siding against them rather than with them.

Obviously you can't tell for sure but I doubt China is just hoping the United States gets blown off the map. I should think they would vastly prefer continuing to get all of our money via trade.. they have too much of our currency, etc to benefit at all from our obliteration.

[radamanthys]

China has made it pretty clear that they don't like what North Korea is doing. Unlike North Korea, China has a working relationship with the rest of the world and does stand to lose something.

I actually think that were North Korea to do something as utterly stupid as fire a missile at SK, Japan or any other country, China or Russia would be the first to respond. North Korea is for all intents and purposes a worthless ally for them and they have far more to gain by siding against them rather than with them.

Obviously you can't tell for sure but I doubt China is just hoping the United States gets blown off the map. I should think they would vastly prefer continuing to get all of our money via trade.. they have too much of our currency, etc to benefit at all from our obliteration.

Maybe we could go into NK and launch something against china?

[Liberi Fatali]

That's actually a frightening threat.

Out of curiosity, how much damage can a single nuclear weapon do? For instance, if it was dropped on Chicago -- would Anticor feel it in South Bend, Indiana?

Could one single nuke wipe out an entire state?

Do we even have a defense system capable of stopping, say, 50+ nukes at once? What if they bombarded us a lot at a time?

[Kuyuk]

<<One nuke sent to NK gives them a parking garage. It's win for both sides.>>


Not very possible. While we have nice nukes, NKorea is mountainous...

They also have a zillion miles of underground tunnels/buildings, which are deep enough to withstand our best bunkerbusters (for the most part).

I actually took a moment to read both those combat theories - and what I got from it was if war broke out - SKorea is uberfucked, and any of our bases there are ubergone within hours, and Japan is also pretty fucked.

[Drakam]

I watched a commentary a couple weeks ago of a professor of military history and tactics from one of the military academies commenting on the chance of war. In short, NK doesn't have the logistics to keep up a long run war. They don't have the ammo, the fuel, or the food. The outcome came out that NK would lose and lose badly but there would be astronomical losses on both sides. That's factoring out their nuclear assets but keeping in their biological and chemical weapons.

I don't think NK nukes are to worry the US itself anytime soon. Bush's star wars program is up and running in that part of the country and can swat down any missile that NK launches. If for some insane reason that NK does launch one at Hawaii on the 4th (which taken their insane babbling and posturing I've come to see as quite possible), we'll most likely swat that thing down and give NK a world of hurt.

[ElanthianSiren]

They could just be whoring it up too to welcome in Il's son.

I believe I read recently that there are signs he'll be taking over soon.

[radamanthys]

When's the last time we did a nuke test 1993 or so? And that was tactical warheads, I believe. I very much believe that our technology has improved since the 60s Hydrogen tests. They were in the 50 Megaton (100Mt planned) range in 1961 in Russia, we had a 15Mt test in 1954.

The NK bomb in 06 was less than 1 kiloton, and the recent test was of unknown strength.

I think we have them on bombs.

[Kuyuk]

<<When's the last time we did a nuke test 1993 or so?>>


Probably a lot more recently than you think.


And just because we have bigger nukes, we wont use them, because of all the collateral damage to others.

If we use nukes, it'll not be a giant bomb to wipe the country...

K.

[radamanthys]

<<When's the last time we did a nuke test 1993 or so?>>


Probably a lot more recently than you think.


And just because we have bigger nukes, we wont use them, because of all the collateral damage to others.

If we use nukes, it'll not be a giant bomb to wipe the country...

K.


Ya, I would think that Carpet bombing with typical 1-2tonne conventionals would likely be more effective, anyway. And it wouldn't carry the stigma of Nuke.

[Celephais]

I didn't think war was ever declared the first time..I'll have to dust off my history knowledge or lack there of.
What's that?
War were declared.

[4a6c1]

I dont think we will go to war. CIA will fix it and make that commie stfu. If not, Barrett 50 cal = America wins.

[radamanthys]

I dont think we will go to war. CIA will fix it and make that commie stfu. If not, Barrett 50 cal = America wins.

I want to see Obama fight KJI. Obama could have his Glock, shooting ghetto-style, calling the guy a "punk ass bitch".

[Kuyuk]

he might swat him like a fly...

[Sean of the Thread]

And give us money.


We owe them so much fucking money it's not funny.

Maybe we can barter and give them more Walmarts and mcdonalds instead.

[Durgrimst]

(We already know what we'd do if they hit us)?

Umm.... yea I do know what WE would do. We would get sad and depressed and have national outrage to go to war with the people that attacked us, and then after a year or so we would decide that war is wrong and bitch and moan about how we need to pull out of the country.

[Sean of the Thread]

It occurred to me earlier that perhaps China is just acting pissed at nkorea but is really behind the whole thing to start some major shit with us....?

[thefarmer]

Umm.... yea I do know what WE would do. We would get sad and depressed and have national outrage to go to war with the people that attacked us, and then after a year or so we would decide that war is wrong and bitch and moan about how we need to pull out of the country.

Searching for a pic for the Simucon thread, and this one came up and I thought it was slightly humorous with what Durg just posted.

http://scottwegener.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/war.jpg

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

It occurred to me earlier that perhaps China is just acting pissed at nkorea but is really behind the whole thing to start some major shit with us....?

With what benefit to China for doing so?

[Sean of the Thread]

Big kid on the block?

[Parkbandit]

Big kid on the block?

Not sure that actually would work in their favor. The best play for China currently, is to publicly continue to side with the US on N. Korea, while working with Russia to move away from the US Dollar (http://www.infowars.net/articles/october2008/311008dollar.htm) and put in place their own currency. The Obama administration is already working diligently to devalue the US dollar and once the US falls into a deep inflation, China can call for it's US loans to be repaid immediately, putting in the final nail into the US Economy's coffin.

Essentially, all they have to do is wait for us to destroy ourselves, ala USSR.

[Tsa`ah]

China doesn't want to move against the dollar while they hold 3/4 of a trillion in US bonds ... unless they can unload it ... which isn't happening.

[Sean of the Thread]

True.

But wouldn't us being involved in another conflict dumping more debt into our book whilst causing more unrest speed that up?

[4a6c1]

I want to see Obama fight KJI. Obama could have his Glock, shooting ghetto-style, calling the guy a "punk ass bitch".

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv183/rojodisco/OBAMA.jpg

:spaz:

me too

[LMingrone]

He's (KJI) just trying to get a rise out of the US. He knows he can't touch us. He wants us to pay attention to him like a troll on an internet forum. He also knows he has thousands(?) of missiles pointed at Seoul and probably Japan.

We can't nuke them, because China would be pissed, and welcome in WWIII. (Except for the fact that China now owns us, so they have an interest in our success now.)

We have plenty of nuclear subs off the coast of Korea to wipe them off the map, but it's not an option unless things go completely crazy.

I'd only be worried about KJI, on his death bed, not caring about anything and just launching his arsenal.

[Gan]

The Obama administration is already working diligently to devalue the US dollar and once the US falls into a deep inflation, China can call for it's US loans to be repaid immediately, putting in the final nail into the US Economy's coffin.

China can threaten to call their debt at any time; however, its not like they're going to reposess the white house if the US doesnt pay up when asked. There's no call clause on this type of debt.

Its within China's best interest to see the US leading the world economy again since it not only holds a major stake but it also pegs its currency on the value of the US dollar.

If anything, China likes that KJI keeps American politicians busy, so they wont meddle with China out of boredom.

[radamanthys]

China can threaten to call their debt at any time; however, its not like they're going to reposess the white house if the US doesnt pay up when asked. There's no call clause on this type of debt.

Its within China's best interest to see the US leading the world economy again since it not only holds a major stake but it also pegs its currency on the value of the US dollar.

If anything, China likes that KJI keeps American politicians busy, so they wont meddle with China out of boredom.

Unfortunately, once china has an infrastructure that can handle it, they're rather poised to take over our place in the world.

They have a comparative advantage in manufacturing and so-such.

[Gan]

Unfortunately, once china has an infrastructure that can handle it, they're rather poised to take over our place in the world.

They have a comparative advantage in manufacturing and so-such.

I wouldnt be so sure. They're great at replicating advancements already achieved - but they're not high on the pioneer side of industry. And their resources are finite in as much as their geographical space. They cant breed their way to the top of the nation chain - and labor will only get you so far until you run out of resources to accomodate it (land, necessities, etc.).

[Mabus]

- and labor will only get you so far until you run out of resources to accomodate it (land, necessities, etc.).
And that is where many nations turn to imperialism.

[kookiegod]

Eventually, we, the collective we, are in a great deal of trouble.

Iran is going to go nutty shortly...

China, eventually...

We may have no choice but to bomb North Korea and set off something.

Last call, i dunno, but we heading for the last days for sure, i dunno how we get out of all this, but the worlds been in free fall for a bit now....

I'd like to see some global peace for awhile.

~Paul

[NocturnalRob]

I'd only be worried about KJI, on his death bed, not caring about anything and just launching his arsenal.
he's so ronery

[Androidpk]

What better way to get out of this economic slump then to go to war with North Korea and start up the draft. Obama did say he was going to create jobs right?

[radamanthys]

I wouldnt be so sure. They're great at replicating advancements already achieved - but they're not high on the pioneer side of industry. And their resources are finite in as much as their geographical space. They cant breed their way to the top of the nation chain - and labor will only get you so far until you run out of resources to accomodate it (land, necessities, etc.).

They've been sending people here for a while for education. Look at the grad schools around- and the sheer volume of asians graduating from those institutions. Not all of them stick around.

Plus, we've sent a considerable amount of our tech & know-how over there with the innumerable outsourcing projects.


Where it may be silly for them now, a collapse of the dollar (probable) or other suitable reason would certainly make the decision much easier over there.

[Fallen]

If our economy suddenly plunged even further, it would be a long time before China could rise to dominate anything because 1. They would lose all that money they put into us, and 2. They would lose their number 1 buyer. Their people are still dirt poor, aren't they? Something tells me they aren't going to start buying up all their own imports.

Who is going to step up to take the place of the all-mighty consumer in place of the US if we fail? China? Again, they make their money by having OTHER people buy their shit. It might happen eventually, after the global markets recover from our economy going nova, but it isn't like anyone would be the better off for it.

[radamanthys]

If our economy suddenly plunged even further, it would be a long time before China could rise to dominate anything because 1. They would lose all that money they put into us, and 2. They would lose their number 1 buyer. Their people are still dirt poor, aren't they? Something tells me they aren't going to start buying up all their own imports.

Who is going to step up to take the place of the all-mighty consumer in place of the US if we fail? China? Again, they make their money by having OTHER people buy their shit. It might happen eventually, after the global markets recover from our economy going nova, but it isn't like anyone would be the better off for it.

See, they don't care that their people are dirt poor.

Isn't that how we got our start? We took over a bombed-out europe?

[Fallen]

See, they don't care that their people are dirt poor.

Isn't that how we got our start? We took over a bombed-out europe?

Different times. Different levels of technology development. It isn't like China is going to ride the waves of a second industrial revolution (Meaning producing NEW stuff, not just having a IR of their own).3

[radamanthys]

Different times. Different levels of technology development. It isn't like China is going to ride the waves of a second industrial revolution (Meaning producing NEW stuff, not just having a IR of their own).3

A good majority of the tech production is over there. Taiwan is making chips like nobody's business.

Necessity is the mother of invention. If the US folds (or buckles), Intel folds. If Intel folds, the demand doesn't go away, nor the know-how. Those people will head somewhere else. China would be the place, more than likely.

[Fallen]

A good majority of the tech production is over there. Taiwan is making chips like nobody's business.

Necessity is the mother of invention. If the US folds (or buckles), Intel folds. If Intel folds, the demand doesn't go away, nor the know-how. Those people will head somewhere else. China would be the place, more than likely.

Over Japan and Europe? You would think they would avoid the place if for nothing else than their Gov. alone.

[radamanthys]

Over Japan and Europe? You would think they would avoid the place if for nothing else than their Gov. alone.

The west is pretty hardcore anti-business right now. Taxes are getting ridiculous, and will get worse as government attempts to maintain its revenue.

Japan is a bit too... "Japanese" to let many big foreign businesses in.

[crb]

<<There may only be around 28,000 US soldiers in South Korea but there are over 1000 nukes split between SK and Japan. Not to mention the deployed B-2s. With combat operations in Iraq slowing down, a war with North Korea is well within the military's capabilities.>>


umm, no.

N. Korea has over 1.2 million military troops.... we only have 1.3 million...

Unless you mean we just nuke their country and wipe out all the civilians as well?


K.
Cause god knows how many starving infantrymen you have is the most important thing to see which side wins a military conflict.

Lets not forget North Korea is so poor they have to ration bullets in training exercises.

Also, you can't exactly walk south from North Korea into South Korea. There are a few million mines in the way.

People fixate so much on the number of infantry, ya, that might be important if we were reenacting the civil war. In any modern conflict Air and Naval (for coastal countries) are what matter. One carrier battle group (we've got like 11) could defeat NK's navy. They have no force mobility, and our air power would put them to shame.

The one threat (outside of their smattering of medium range missiles) North Korea has is artillery, and that is only a threat to South Korea or maybe Japan. If they started an artillery barrage we'd just hit them back from land and sea and air to stop them.

They also consequently have a shit ton of SAM missiles, but that is where all our advanced fighters, bombers, and cruise missiles come in handy. All the expensive shit people complain about.

Or we could just sit back and do a naval blockade + barrage with artillery until they give up and some ambitious general offs Kim and takes control of the government in coup, before waving the white flag. Destroying an enemy's will to fight does not always require a ground invasion and lengthy occupation.

On the nuclear front NK has a couple nukes akin to what we dropped on Japan. These are the big uranium nukes, they are too big to go on a missile, way too big to be portable. You aren't going to sneak one anywhere, not yet. It is estimated they are 5 ish years away from one that'll fit a warhead. So while they have a missile that could on paper hit hawaii or alaska, it wouldn't be nuclear, not yet.

[Fallen]

Also, we would be really dumb to do an occupation of NK. Just bomb them back to the stone age. Rinse repeat if their next leader gets stupid. Fuck rebuilding.

[crb]

He's (KJI) just trying to get a rise out of the US. He knows he can't touch us. He wants us to pay attention to him like a troll on an internet forum. He also knows he has thousands(?) of missiles pointed at Seoul and probably Japan.

We can't nuke them, because China would be pissed, and welcome in WWIII. (Except for the fact that China now owns us, so they have an interest in our success now.)

We have plenty of nuclear subs off the coast of Korea to wipe them off the map, but it's not an option unless things go completely crazy.

I'd only be worried about KJI, on his death bed, not caring about anything and just launching his arsenal.
And oh, by the way, China's military is tiny.

They are about equivalent to the UK.

When you add up us and all our Nato allies China's military is about 1/20th.

They have 1/10th our nuclear subs (we have 71, they have 8). 0 aircraft carriers. All their aircraft is a generation old. They have no force mobility. No way to strike beyond their borders other than a few ICBMs, which we may be able to shoot down, and of course which we have far more than enough to retaliate with.

China would be a bitch to invade, because they do have an enormous infantry, but you could easily do a naval blockade and destroy their economy, destroy their ports. For them to do the same to us they would hve to best our comically larger navy and airforce, then dominate both the Atlantic and Pacific (Because we're blessed with having a country that spans a continent) much much harder.

Everyone likes to talk up our debt like we're on their leash, but they cannot demand payment on their bonds at any time. And congress could just as easily pass a law saying the bonds held by sovereign governments who commit acts of war upon us are hereby null and void. Voila, China loses a trillion dollars.

Any sovereign government has the power to cancel any of their debt at any time. The risk of doing so is people losing faith in your government and refuse to buy your debt in the future. But if the world is at war, as it would be in this scenario, the US government, by virtue of our utter military dominance and strategic world position (again, the geography of our country, as well as our outlying territories and foreign bases, are all extreme strategic advantages), then we'd still have the safest investment in town. People aren't going to flee the dollar or US debt if there is WW3, quite the opposite.

[crb]

Also, we would be really dumb to do an occupation of NK. Just bomb them back to the stone age. Rinse repeat if their next leader gets stupid. Fuck rebuilding.
Yes, nation building is a fool's errand.

On a related note. We REALLY should finalize that free trade agreement with SK (unlikely with protectionist Obama in office). South Korea is a beacon of light between NK and China, we should strengthen our ties with them as much as possible.

[Androidpk]

No one has mentioned the number of combat veteran soldiers the U.S has. Not only is our technology and training superior, the experience is off the charts as well.