O/T what do you all make of North Korea's threats?

I've had a lot of monotonous work to get done at the office, so when I take sanity breaks to read the news this is a topic that I am continuously seeing.

I don't quite understand the level of "threat" we face. I know North Korea is very small - I believe the size of New Hampshire? Why the obsession with nuclear weapons - what are these people preparing for?

Apparently, today they are planning to conduct another "test."

It always seemed like we laughed at North Korea. (Team America, anyone? God I loved that movie...) Now it seems they are being taken more seriously, at least by what I see on the news. What gives? Should we be scared?

The world is so scary lately.

AJanie's blog
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I think we should be more

I think we should be more afraid of China if we decide to engage with NK. But, I'm not really that hip to politics and war.

I think we should be more

I think we should be more afraid of 45's lack of knowledge about world affairs. He doesn't seem to understand the impact his words and actions will have on the rest of the world.

Thing I agree with Disney on

Thing I agree with Disney on number two. Definitely getting a lottery ticket today at lunch

Did you see his tweet this

Did you see his tweet this morning?

"Things will work out just fine between the U.S.A. and Russia. At the right time everyone will come to their senses & there will be lasting peace."

Whiplash, anyone? Or, as I suspect, trying to appease daddy for the harsh words of yesterday??

He's a nutjob. I have been so

He's a nutjob.

I have been so busy at work I've been ignoring the news on purpose so my brain doesn't explode.
From the bits and pieces I have seen it seems like the administration is slowly circling down a drain while simultaneously bouncing off the fun-house walls.

...while the rest of the world shakes it head in confusion...

and his base still loves

and his base still loves him.......

I'll have to try out that

I'll have to try out that documentary. I love watching them.

Have you seen Dear Zachary yet?

Is this the ex kills dad and

Is this the ex kills dad and takes kid to Canada, dad's parents pursue custody story?

I remember seeing several stories about that on Dateline, 20/20 etc., but didn't know there was a film.

Has to be one of the saddest

Has to be one of the saddest things I have ever watched. I cried my eyes out.

I just remembered the end of

I just remembered the end of that story.

So sad

Just put that documentary on

Just put that documentary on the list. Thanks for the response.

The North Koreans are

The North Koreans are obsessed with nuclear weapons because they got their asses handed to them during the Korean War. The Korean peninsula is the most militarized place on Earth. ~4.5 Million in the NK military and ~3 Million in the SK military with ~30K of our own thrown into the peninsular military mix.

The threat of NK is real but not substantial as most analysts indicate that even if NK invaded SK they would hold the initiative for only ~4days before the technical superiority of the SK military and their US allies would hand the NKs their own asses on a platter. The risk is that in desperation the NKs would take the conflict nuclear. It is most likely that if that happened it would be limited to within close proximity to the NK/SK border. The NKs only have ~6 nuclear weapons and their ability to project that force any notable distance is considered to be negligible.

One war game simulation recently done by the Pentagon indicates the biggest challenge of a NK/SK/US conflict would be securing the NK's nuclear arsenal. The projections are that it would take ~180 days and cost 90K casualties to do it. I suspect that the policy will remain roughly what is has been since 1956 when the armistice was signed. Containment. If we collapse the NK gov't and reunification with SK is attempted the estimates are that it would cost ~$2Trillion.

I do not think we should be scared though we should be cautious and wary. \

I am hoping that our CinC keeps his head in the game and doesn't over stimulate the pudgy weird hair dude North of the DMZ too much.