N Korean hydrogen bomb-tipped missile could fly over Japan

Which is to say that NK is ignoring Japan and is only fixated on the USA

It was the North Korean delegate to the U.N. who declared that NK may test an H-bomb in the Pacific. If it is going to be carried by missile it will inevitably fly over Japan due to the rotational direction of the earth. The J-DM is merely stating the obvious. However if NK were to carry out such an exercise it would raise the stakes to an unprecedented level, first for shooting a nuclear armed ballistic missile over Japan AND carrying out an above ground nuclear detonation.

I am struck with a strange feeling to hear their rhetoric and seeing what they do. Their clock seems stopped since the Korean War. Their enemy is still U.S. I wonder why they do not attack Japan verbally while South Korea does it constantly annoying us. We may be able to do better with them rather than with South Korea.

Time for all sides to step back, take a deep breath, and consider the consequences of the rhetoric becoming reality.

All sides here need a serious "time-out" as these kids are literally playing with fire and lives!

Burning Bush, you have been watching too many Hollywood movies if you believe that the movements of mobile launchers are being monitored in real time by spy satellites.

YubaruToday 07:58 am JSTTime for all sides to step back, take a deep breath, and consider the consequences of the rhetoric becoming reality.

No kidding, But how do you suggest we get Kim Jong In to step back?

Ossan - agreed. That would be a game-changer; even China would get on board 100%, which is why I believe its more bluster rather than any statement of intention (how high can the escalation of rhetoric between Trump and Kim go?). We'd still be in the same quandary about what to do, though.

@Ossan - I agree with you. It is hard to get Kim to step back. BUT....Trump's use of childlike name calling and overly aggressive rhetoric does not help matters.

I am sure there are a few people (probably Mattis and John Kelly who wince when the President tweets or uses these tactics.

I am a believer in the fact we somehow need to put an end to what is going on in North Korea. On the other hand I strongly disagree with the way the U.S. President is communicating this.

I have zero doubt that Trump deviated from the written script. It works against the various actions we are taking which are all the right thing to do. If the objective is to infuriate Kim personally to goad him into taking an action that would justify a military response, then it's working. But otherwise, I don't think so,

We also cannot rule out the possibility that it will fly onto Japan. While Trump is visiting in November would be an ideal opportunity that I'm sure NK has not overlooked.

If it comes to it, I won't be surprised to hear liberals say "Well, I think the world just has to come to terms with a North Korea that obliterates a city of 300,000 every year or two."

If NK gets their solid fuel tech working a surprise launch would be rather easier. But I doubt they are going to lob a real bomb anywhere. The risk of moving China into real action is too strong and they have no idea what Trump would really do. It could convince Japan to go nuclear. Lots of things that NK didn't want to happen might.

So while Trump and the third fatty make hissy fits at each other I don't see where the media war is that dangerous. Just two fools trading noises.

Looking closer at the provided picture, does that mean the N.K equivalent of manga all have green covers?

""What may come next is an intercontinental ballistic missile and a nuclear test that is not conducted underground."

Congratulations, then. You are reaping what you sowed. This is the DIRECT result of the bombast by the US and Japan in particular.

That would indeed be a provocation that could not go unanswered and I think would truly be the final straw. However if I were NK I would probably want to either test launch or detonate from a submarine delivered nuke as that would have more value to them I suspect.

Although lobbing a live nuke over Japan while Trump is in town might be too hard to resist for them

The whole point for NK going nuclear is to prevent it from being interfered with by the US. If anyone thinks these guys will not use these weapons is a serious miscalculation. Even if it does mean the total annihilation of their regime and the whole of NK. These guys will not go down peacefully. US rhetoric, a la Trump is incredibly unhelpful for those neighbours who are close and host US forces and if anything does happen it's squarely on his shoulders.

It is way too late in the day for mud slinging as it now has very serious consequences. If I were running things I would lift sanctions (sanctions have done exactly squat) and allow NK to trade and develop freely, zero restrictions. How long do you then think it will take China and Russia to work out where that scenario will go.

North Korea may be at the height of self satisfaction now being able to deal squarely with America - the strongest country of the world. When we look back the history of Korea peninsula sympathetically, it is a history of hardships and sufferings sandwiched by big powers of China, Russia and Japan. They were damaged devastatingly in the Korean War, of course. Do people here know about "Mimi zuka" and "Hana zuka"? Mimi zuka is an ear mound and Hana zuka a nose mound. The mounds were built during the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) when Japan invaded Korea. They brought back sliced ears and noses of Korean soldiers and buried them at the mounds mostly found in Kansai.

It's all up to Rocket Man. Hope he isn't stupid. He is playing in the big leagues now.

Like it or not, Kim is on notice and if he chooses to continue "testing" his missles over Japan you can fully expect a military response. IT will be brutal and people will die but that suffering would hail in comparison to what will eventually happen when NK vaporizes Seoul, Tokyo, or Los Angeles in the future.

And its statements such as these that rang loud before the iraq debacle. Didnt fall for it then, not falling for it now!!

This 'drama' has a four pronged purpose.

Drown out the russian election tampering noise for trump.

Drown out the racist tinged drama for abe.

Put as much pressure on china to delay its inevitable rise to number one globally.

Make a tonne of cash for the military industrial complex.

Thats about it. Anything else is empty noise!!

The headline and picture make it seem that NK warned that a nuke missile would fly over Japan.

Totally misleading, and intentionally so.

No, the headline clearly says "could", and with NK's history of firing missiles over Japan, this is indeed a possibility. Kim's picture has more of an impact than some Japanese minister, so I have no problem with that. You can't expect to know everything about an article from the headline.

It seems that most people who have posted here are simply afraid to confront a challenge that needs to be dealt with now.

How willl you be confronting the challenge?

Like it or not, Kim is on notice and if he chooses to continue "testing" his missles over Japan you can fully expect a military response. IT will be brutal and people will die but that suffering would hail in comparison to what will eventually happen when NK vaporizes Seoul, Tokyo, or Los Angeles in the future.

Scaremongering isn't going to work. Are you really prepared for the escalation into full blown conflict? How will this impact on your life here in Japan?

Scaremongering isn't going to work.

It doesn't have to. When he sees the full US might, that'll change.

Are you really prepared for the escalation into full blown conflict? How will this impact on your life here in Japan?

I don't have a crystal ball, but YOU can't stop it and neither can I. If Kim wants to keep his regime, he'll stop, if he doesn't, then we know he likes to play roulette at his own peril.

Scaremongering isn't going to work. Are you really prepared for the escalation into full blown conflict? How will this impact on your life here in Japan?

Shhh. Youre starting to use common sense. Be careful!!

It doesn't have to. When he sees the full US might, that'll change.

LOL, like it did in the Korean war huh? Believe it or not, life in the Korean peninsula would be turned upside down if the us went on its military industrial complex driven murderous adventures. Thats something that both China and Russia will not take laying down!!

Kim Jong Un's dictatorship is over. If China and Russia don't decapitate his regime from top to bottom, the US will. This long dance with the lying north Korean regime has gone nowhere since the 1950's and it's time to pay the piper. These types of rogue countries are a waste of money and time to deal with and the UN is a useless organizational that cannot deal with anything and are a joke.

These types of rogue countries are a waste of money and time to deal with and the UN is a useless organizational that cannot deal with anything and are a joke.

But enough about the US; what about the DPRK?

I do wonder where some of the pro-war accounts urging conflict and untold death and destruction emanate from & what kind of benefits there are for cheerleading for carnage.

All these "Americans" allegedly "residing" in Japan, desperate for WW3.

Something doesn't add up.

LOL, like it did in the Korean war huh?

Different war and different time. The cassette player wasn't even invented yet.

Believe it or not, life in the Korean peninsula would be turned upside down if the us went on its military industrial complex driven murderous adventures.

Well, if you can persuade Kim to stop firing missiles over Japan, then I will listen.

Thats something that both China and Russia will not take laying down!!

No and neither will Japan and South Korea.

I do wonder where some of the pro-war accounts urging conflict and untold death and destruction emanate from & what kind of benefits there are for cheerleading for carnage.

I wonder about the pacifists stance on and willing to accept a guy on the peninsula to threaten his neighbors and the US?

All these "Americans" allegedly "residing" in Japan, desperate for WW3.

No one is desperate for WW3 are you pacifists desperate and accept living with a crazy NK Marshal that threatens to destroy parts of his country, Japan and the US? I know I'm not.

Something doesn't add up.

I have two sons in the us military that told me that rocketboy's days are numbered in days not weeks. The game of talk and lies are over, so take cover cause the poop is going to hit the fan real soon.

Not too sure how anyone can take that photo seriously.

This guy is bursting at the seams. He's going to have a heart attack before there's a real missile attack. I bet those glasses leave an impression on the side of his face.

N Korean hydrogen bomb-tipped missile could fly over Japan

At some point the appeasers will have to take Little Kim seriously. Firing missiles over another country is crazy enough. What happens when one of his nuclear test missiles accidentally lands in or around Japan? This guy is a mad man.

Weasel, there is a saying it takes one to know one. so to deal with a mad nutcase, we may need some nutcases too. former presidents indeed failed to contain NKs nuke ambitions, so may be if we leave it to the nutcases now residing in the WH, it could work. but at huge costs, no doubt.

There are a few things to consider. But the bottom line is the people that will suffer if a H bomb on a missile is launched is the prleople flying near the area where it will detonate. Airplain will crash, ships at see will be destroyed. Marine life will be annihilated.

Should Japan or ANY nation allow this to happen?? NO WAY. This is a clear threat to the international community!!! To say ahhhh let's talk more... frankly speaking that's what allowed us to get here.

While led talks and proposals to talk have been on the table NK continues to do what they want!

i see MOST of the posters here as a buch of liberals! Not willing to lift a gunfire to help a stranger! Now I am not saying all posters here are so, some of you get it! The time to hope for a peaceful solution to this matter has past.

I would love love a peaceful solution but I am realistic, I think that time has past.

I am american but but nearly half my life has been lived in Japan. I love this country. I will fight for it! Heck I would die for it!! My family is Japanese and American!!!

if you are willing to allow NK to simply launch his experience rockets over Japan and go unopposed is a danger too.

If if your not willing to fight for Japan and your not willing to stand up to NK then why post your thought??!

Enough useless talk about negotiations with NK. The only thing that matters with NK is to cut them off financially and sever all trade with them on a worldwide basis. Starve them into submission so that the people overthrow the regime and the fat boy will be ousted.

@Skeeter

I bet you've silenced a few liberals right there with your erudition and your eloquence.

I'm right with you: anyone "Not willing to lift a gunfire" in the defence of their homeland is beyond contempt....

You guys realize you are talking about potential conflict that will cost likely 10's of millions of deaths? Some of you seem to think this is joke, but it is not.

I am a believer in the fact we somehow need to put an end to what is going on in North Korea. On the other hand I strongly disagree with the way the U.S. President is communicating this.

@Tokyo-Eng, Kim and the DPRK government will never abandon their goal. How are you going to put an end to Kim and his antics?  Dialog leading to appeasement?

I do wonder where some of the pro-war accounts urging conflict and untold death and destruction emanate from & what kind of benefits there are for cheerleading for carnage.

You guys realize you are talking about potential conflict that will cost likely 10's of millions of deaths? Some of you seem to think this is joke, but it is not.

@Toasted Heretic and @Nippori Nick, what solution would you prefer? Surrender South Korea to North Korea under a reunified Korea under DPRK regime if it means avoiding "untold death and destruction"? 

 Many who advocate "better Red than Dead" have never lived under a totalitarian dictatorship like the DPRK regime.  And if you don't think DPRK is a totalitarian dictatorship, why don't you all live there for a few years and then tell us what you think....if you're allowed to while you're there.

Most of you all focus on the "10's of millions of death" but do not consider what appeasement and surrender of a sovereign and democratic country like South Korea to a totalitarian dictatorship North Korea will entail for its people.  Ask the South Korean people if they want to give up their sovereignty, democracy and freedom.  I doubt they are willing to live under DPRK regime.

This mass psychosis about non-existent appeasement must not be allowed lead the region into war.

The DPRK, no matter how repugnant its regime is, must be allowed exist. It has every right to - just as the US does, despite the treacherous crook now running it.

The forces advocating war are shadowy and nefarious; there is an agenda at work here aided and abetted by simpering acolytes momentarily distracted from their video games.

They must not succeed. These people do not even live in Japan.

This mass psychosis about non-existent appeasement must not be allowed lead the region into war.

Tell Kim to stop, then we don't have to worry about war escalating.

The DPRK, no matter how repugnant its regime is, must be allowed exist. It has every right to - just as the US does, despite the treacherous crook now running it.

Sure it does, just tell them to halt all proliferation and stop threatening and firing and testing missiles near Japan and letting them fly over Japan and stop indicating they want to destroy the US and that nation can and will exist, they can't do any of the aforementioned then it doesn't seem possible it will exist and not in this form at least.

The forces advocating war are shadowy and nefarious; there is an agenda at work here aided and abetted by simpering acolytes momentarily distracted from their video games.

Like what?

They must not succeed. These people do not even live in Japan.

Well, you or I have no control over what will succeed and what will not and I do and I want them to do whatever it takes to stop them, but if you don't like it, have ANTIFA go and stage a protest or maybe Rodman can talk some sense to this loon.

and I want them to do whatever it takes to stop them, but if you don't like it, have ANTIFA go and stage a protest or maybe Rodman can talk some sense to this loon.

You want a pre-emptive strike, you are against dialogue. You wish to advocate a war that will end lives of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions in this region whilst you sit it out thousands of miles away.

ANTIFA and Rodman bear no relation to each other or this situation.

Don't forget your ROFL schtick as the war commences and our voices over here are silenced forever.

Because of men like KIm and Trump. And because of angry, impotent keyboard warriors who think conflict is always the answer.

America and North Korea can bomb us and our families to oblivion but you'll never destroy our humanity.

@Toasted Heretic and @Nippori Nick, what solution would you prefer? Surrender South Korea to North Korea under a reunified Korea under DPRK regime if it means avoiding "untold death and destruction"? 

I would prefer a solution where millions don't die. DPRK has not invaded South Korea for over 60 years. You really think they are going to do in in the near future?

Why doesn't this "out of shape creep" get on a treadmill? Maybe by doing that he could get his brain put back in the right place!