<p>If there is now even the slightest chance NK has nuclear missiles, isn’t the US now in position it has to shoot down any launched NK missile? Even if NK shoots a missile toward middle of ocean away from everything with the tiniest nuclear weapon as a ‘test’…it would be too unsettling for free world if the thing was detonated.</p>
<p>^^^^
Yes, it would be very unsettling, but letting NK do that would provide us with the justification to take whatever action we deem necessary. Doing anything too early will just invite the usual "America as the aggressor "discourse.</p>
<p>Now I am thinking that things might settle down. Kerry has now arrived in the region, which makes KJU look really important. Hopefully, this is all he wants.</p>
<p>I’m really aggravated that we’re giving NK so much press coverage (sensationalized at that). It’s exactly what they want to prove they’re a major player.</p>
<p>I think it is time to ask WWID- what would Israel do?</p>
<p>They would tell the world if Iran dare get involve they will personally be the first the declare war on them.</p>
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<p>if Israel ever gets involved in any sort of war… WWIII here we come</p>
<p>Ugh, this world is just too complicated. WWIII would mean nuclear war/ destruction of all human lives?</p>
<p>It would only be a nuclear war if it involve a deadly conflict between us and China. But each passing year a nuclear war is less likely. I doubt WWIII will be a nuclear war.</p>
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<p>I’ll ask the same questions as before… what does the U.S. gain from shooting down the missile? What would be the North Korean response? What if the U.S. misses?</p>
<p>Of course, I don’t know how long the U.S. has… how long does it take to determine the trajectory of a ballistic missile? How long does it take the missile to get from North Korea to Japan? Ballistic missiles can hit literally anywhere in the world within 30 minutes, so I assume we are talking like… MAYBE 10-15 minutes to make a call when they launch this thing. Well, according to this: [What</a> the US should do if North Korea launches 2 Musudan missiles | Fox News](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/04/11/what-us-should-do-if-north-korea-launches-2-musudan-missiles/]What”>What the US should do if North Korea launches 2 Musudan missiles | Fox News) we can get the trajectory within “seconds” which is pretty fast. But, the call to shoot it down would have to come from POTUS, I’m sure (or he might delegate to SECDEF, like: if it’s going to hit land, shoot it down, if it isn’t, let it go). Who ever is in charge of the ship with the missiles on it will not be making the call to shoot or not, that’s probably some random O-6… or could even be an O-5. This means they need to collect the info, send it to DC, let DC decide what to do, transmit the order back, and carryout the order.</p>
<p>This is part of the reason in the Cold War they made agreements that you could put more nukes on bombers. In fact, even the most recent US/Russia agreement counts each bomber as 1 nuke, even if it has 10+ bombs on it. Bombers take time to fly to their target and they can be recalled. Ballistic missiles do not afford the same luxury.</p>
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<p>I don’t think things will settle at least until they test the missile.</p>
<p>[BM25</a> Musudan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM25_Musudan]BM25”>Hwasong-10 - Wikipedia)</p>
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<p>What does the U.S gain from not shooting down a missile? Would you take the chance it’s a test and not aimed for South Korea or Japan? </p>
<p>North Korean response? Probably nothing unless they’re suicidal. We could destroy the North Korean army without landing a single troop in North Korea. </p>
<p>Then the U.S misses.</p>
<p>soccerguy, I don’t think we have to worry about time for a decision to make its way through the chain of command. Orders are most likely already in place in the event of a launch.</p>
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<p>[Ex-CIA</a> Analyst Expects North Korea to Attack South Korea Before Tensions End | Danger Room | Wired.com](<a href=“http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/04/north-korea-climbdown/]Ex-CIA”>Ex-CIA Analyst Expects North Korea to Attack South Korea Before Tensions End | WIRED)</p>
<p>A defected North Korea intelligence officer also predicted North Korea would start war but another defected spy said that the threats are just a show by the young and inexperienced KJU.</p>
<p>cortana, where did you read about these statements from a “defected North Korean intelligence officer” and “another defected spy”? I was not aware that anyone at that level in NK has defected and I would very much like to learn more.</p>
<p>^^^^^
I think I also saw something on CNN where they interviewed a woman now living in the U.S. who was somehow connected with NK intelligence. When she defected they killed her husband who was still in NK.</p>
<p>I’m willing to bet we’ll see something tomorrow.</p>
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<p>Hopefully news NK’s launch computers BSODed after trying to downgrade to Windows ME/Vista. :D</p>
<p>““North Korea may face (a) severe food shortage,” Ambassador Hong Gyu told President Elbegdorj, according to the account. Mr. Hong then asked for Mongolia to consider the possibility of delivering food aid to North Korea, the account said.”</p>
<p>“North Korea’s toughest part of the year for food begins in April and runs through September, when the annual corn harvest begins. Kwon Tae-jin, a scholar on North Korean agriculture in Seoul said that last year’s yield was moderate, but not sufficient to tide the country over.”</p>
<p>[North</a> Korea Asks Mongolia for Food Aid - Korea Real Time - WSJ](<a href=“North Korea Asks Mongolia for Food Aid - WSJ”>North Korea Asks Mongolia for Food Aid - WSJ)</p>
<p>At least they’re not asking us.</p>
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<p>The only way to stop NK is to let them starve until their ability to engage in war is diminished. It will take a long time but we are not responsible for starving NK citizens.</p>