North Korea executed envoy for the failed summit with Trump.

[Brian37]

In all honest, let’s not get carried away.  North Korea is only in reality ever a low level conventional and asymmetrical threat.  It’s nuclear weapons were truly defensive and never a threat, other than the fact that it threatens American ability to threaten North Korea.    America can not abide by other having the ability to deprive America of the ability to threaten everyone else as its whims dictate.    This has only become more intolerable to the rest of the world when America proved it has become so debased that its whim could emanate from Donald trump.

I don't think NK was ever a significant threat.  I was making fun of Trump's claim that it is no longer a threat.

Boru

That is what is so scary about Trump, far too many idiots buy his bullshit.

But I would not say NK isn't a threat. I am quite sure trying to argue that to South Koreans or Japanese would get you a tilted head and "WTF" look.

Even without nukes they do have a large army, and plenty of local rockets that could flatten Soul. The Korean War was long ago, but even then that war went up and down the entire peninsula for 3 years. 

A war with North Korea would be devastating, and would most certainly have a potential to drag the world into a nuclear war. NK isn't a direct threat to mainland U.S. right now, but even a regional conflict could be a domino.

[Anomalocaris]

"It’s nuclear weapons were truly defensive and never a threat, other than the fact that it threatens American ability to threaten North Korea"

That pretty much counts for everyone. 

No, America is the most glaring exception.   America has made calculated ambiguity regarding whether it would use nuclear weapon first, or even as its opening move in any hostility it’s policy since the beginning of the nuclear era.    It has threatened on many occasions that not only would it use nuclear weapon first under numerous circumstances, but it would use nuclear weapons preemptively and against opponents who didn’t have nuclear weapons.

Other overt nuclear weapons states at least all generally promise not to use nuclear weapon preemptively, and China now at least, and the former Soviet Union when it existed,  consistently offered to promise to never use nuclear weapons against an opponent who didn’t have nuclear weapons.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I don't think NK was ever a significant threat.  I was making fun of Trump's claim that it is no longer a threat.

Boru

That is what is so scary about Trump, far too many idiots buy his bullshit.

But I would not say NK isn't a threat. I am quite sure trying to argue that to South Koreans or Japanese would get you a tilted head and "WTF" look.

Even without nukes they do have a large army, and plenty of local rockets that could flatten Soul. The Korean War was long ago, but even then that war went up and down the entire peninsula for 3 years. 

A war with North Korea would be devastating, and would most certainly have a potential to drag the world into a nuclear war. NK isn't a direct threat to mainland U.S. right now, but even a regional conflict could be a domino.

Do you ever listen to yourself when you talk?

Boru

[Brian37]

The only way I see NK going down, would be to make some sort of deal with China and convince them the Kim family is not worth protecting. The problem with that is that they don't want a western entity on their direct border, nor do they want a refugee epidemic if we were to invade. But as it stands now, NK is a stalemate between the east and west, and unfortunately as much as I hate that family, it is a buffer between China and our Ally in SK.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The only way I see NK going down, would be to make some sort of deal with China and convince them the Kim family is not worth protecting. The problem with that is that they don't want a western entity on their direct border, nor do they want a refugee epidemic if we were to invade. But as it stands now, NK is a stalemate between the east and west, and unfortunately as much as I hate that family, it is a buffer between China and our Ally in SK.

So...you DON'T listen to yourself.  Got it.

Boru

[Brian37]

That is what is so scary about Trump, far too many idiots buy his bullshit.

But I would not say NK isn't a threat. I am quite sure trying to argue that to South Koreans or Japanese would get you a tilted head and "WTF" look.

Even without nukes they do have a large army, and plenty of local rockets that could flatten Soul. The Korean War was long ago, but even then that war went up and down the entire peninsula for 3 years. 

A war with North Korea would be devastating, and would most certainly have a potential to drag the world into a nuclear war. NK isn't a direct threat to mainland U.S. right now, but even a regional conflict could be a domino.

Do you ever listen to yourself when you talk?

Boru

If you think NK is a pushover you'd be wrong. They have a big enough army to cause catastrophic damage to SK. And while China is not fond of that family themselves, they do not want a western style government directly on their border. China helped NK in the Korean war as well as Nam.

In a one on two fight, meaning the US and SK, it would be far easier, but there would still be catastrophic loss of life. China would not sit by and allow us to get that close to their border. 

The only realistic way I see the Kim family falling is through sanctions. But right now, all I see is using sanctions to keep them in check. A war there again, would be far worse than the first time.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

If you think NK is a pushover you'd be wrong.

What have I said that makes you think I think that?

 

They have a big enough army to cause catastrophic damage to SK.

I know.  Is there anymore blatantly obvious knowledge you'd like to impart?

And while China is not fond of that family themselves, they do not want a western style government directly on their border.

They've already got such a government directly on their border.  Hadn't you heard?

 China helped NK in the Korean war as well as Nam.

Thank you for yet another 'everybody knows' thing.

In a one on two fight, meaning the US and SK, it would be far easier, but there would still be catastrophic loss of life. China would not sit by and allow us to get that close to their border. 

No one knows WHAT China would do.  Immaterial anyway, as North Korea isn't going to attack the South in the foreseeable future.

The only realistic way I see the Kim family falling is through sanctions. But right now, all I see is using sanctions to keep them in check.

Yes, I'm sure you see it that way.  Mind you, no country in the history of countries has ever fallen because of sanctions.

A war there again, would be far worse than the first time.

Can we get you on Mastermind?  Your special subject could be 'The Painfully Fucking Obvious'.

Boru

[madog]

Would you say that if it was you or some of your family members being executed?

Give me your address and I'll rush you a free copy of my Sarcasm Detection Kit.

Boru

Room 36 Ryongsong Residence, Pyongyang, North Korea

[Chad32]

I've heard that NK would attack Sol if something happened, but it should be fairly easy to evacuate a city before a war started. And if the US can't defend SK in case NK attacks, then what good is the alliance anyway?

[Brian37]

Give me your address and I'll rush you a free copy of my Sarcasm Detection Kit.

Boru

Room 36 Ryongsong Residence, Pyongyang, North Korea

Are you sure it isn't room 39?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_39