News What impact will a possible war with North Korea have on American troops?

[TubbaBlubba]

I'm not concerned with war as much as North Korea's sanctions - Will we no longer enjoy the blessings of sunny weather from Kim Jong-il?Tasteless jokes aside, I really don't think that NK want to take on anyone. They wouldn't be able to keep their propaganda up while their troops are slaughtered. Kim Jong-il may be crazy, but he's not stupid.

 

[Geigerclick]

I'm not concerned with war as much as North Korea's sanctions - Will we no longer enjoy the blessings of sunny weather from Kim Jong-il?


Tasteless jokes aside, I really don't think that NK want to take on anyone. They wouldn't be able to keep their propaganda up while their troops are slaughtered. Kim Jong-il may be crazy, but he's not stupid.

I hope you're right, and certainly that seems to be the case. The way this plays in NK is that an SK ship invaded NK (really contested) waters, and NK acted in self defense. Now they must put aside famine and misery and be even MORE patriotic... and in greater support for KJI's son. Hell, it could be the result of internal political tensions, real or perceived, of which we're not aware. Fortunately, the bottom line is that this does not seem to be the opening shot of a war.

 

[TubbaBlubba]

I'm sure it's been mentioned and linked already, but the Vice Guide to North Korea is a series of short documentary videos which really goes to show how far the propaganda brainwashing really goes there.

 

[mheslep]

I speculate the first NK aggressive action in response to SK sanctions will be attempts to continue running NK shipping through SK waters from which they are about to be (already?) banned. That's high profile, antagonistic, and incremental action, which seems to fit the Pyongyang MO so far.

 

[Pattonias]

This seems to be good news. I think NK will have to back down now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10201876.stm"

It seems China decided not to side with North Korea this time.

 

[Borg]

Looks like the South blinked first. No telling what kind of back-door discussions are going on though.

http://www.seoulnews.net/story/641915"

 

[russ_watters]

Thread cleaned and reopened.

 

[signerror]

US sends carrier group to Yellow Sea; will arrive "early next week". Sources say they will conduct joint anti-submarine exercises with South Korea.

US carrier to join S.Korea anti-submarine drill

PANMUNJOM, Korea — A nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier will join a major anti-submarine naval exercise with South Korea next week in a show of defiance against communist North Korea, sources said Wednesday.

...

Yonhap quoted one military source as saying the joint drill was initially planned for late June or early July, but was brought forward to send a "strong signal and show off a firm defence posture".

The George Washington will head a US battle fleet comprising some 10 ships including an Aegis destroyer and nuclear-powered submarines, it said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFz0_2u3nzRFZ30YtPM8sX9UhYJA

 

[Pattonias]

Thread cleaned and reopened.

Thanks Russ

 

[Visigoth]

I have not read the entirety of replies in this thread, but I would like to point out that while a full-out war with North Korea is currently unlikely, I feel North Korea - U.S. relations will be at the apex of diplomatic tensions before the fall to nuclear warfare and World War 3.

Whenever you have an unstable nation which is hungry, with the world's second largest military, a people so patriotic they religiously worship the leader, and a violently irrational level of xenophobia with a past history of violence, there are major grounds for issue.