politics

N Korea threatens to sink Japan, reduce U.S. to ashes and darkness

65 Comments
By Jack Kim and Kiyoshi Takenaka

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65 Comments
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Sticks and stones... No one should ever start a war just because of trash talking. Grow up.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Turns out stripes are not so thinning. What is this guy on? Obviously not his prescribed medication. He wants to attack a country that is hardly threatened his own fiefdom, does he know that his family abducted Japanese citizens? Fired missiles over said country? And he feels angry? Lay off the sugar I say.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

I feel the appropriate response would not be of retaliation but further insistence on peaceful and productive collaboration. How many wars do we need to fight to realize there will never be a lasting peace through continued violence. The planet and its inherent infrastructure has many problems to be solved in order for humanity to survive. No single nation has all the answers.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

When is the petulant child going to call out China and Russia? They could have vetoed it and didn't..

Perhaps because for all the bluster and nonsense he knows US, South Korea and Japan are trying to operate under the rule of law, start really pissing off China and Russia and next minute there will be a mysterious change in tone and most likely leadership.

Everyone knows how dangerous a US ally on the boarder of China and Russia is, no-one really wants it, and would have been ok will leaving North Korea to their own (terrible, human rights abusing) business if it wasn't for all these tests and missiles, but NK is determined, at their own peril to be an international power player.

Again, China could stop all this in almost no time, simply, if any more missiles or weapons are tested the will annul the defence agreement with NK, and restrict any access of goods and people in and out of NK.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Oh I forgot he had his uncle killed using an anti aircraft gun, his older brother assassinated at an international airport. How can anyone interact positively with a Man who's view of the world encompasses such actions. Maybe I'm too harsh.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

He's all bark and no bite. This evil regime could have been irrelevant several years ago if not for dad China and uncle Russia.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

It's not gunna happen. The second NK does anything against either Japan, SK, or the USA it will be invaded by China from the North , and the USA and SK from the South.

The regime will end and everything they suffered for will be for nothing.

NK has always stated to its people that the ultimate goal is to acquire nuclear weapons in order to try to force the USA out so that they can negotiate a treaty with the South uniting the peninsula.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It's unlikely to ever believe that North Korea is to launch an all out suicide attack on either Japan or USA. It would be a shame to see the beatiful north korean Masikryong Ski Resort go up in flames:( Wether you like it or not, North Korea is actually a beatiful country with nice and hospitable poeple! Japan should especially acknowledge this fact since you'd colonized the Korean peninsula for 45 years.

It's just a shame that they can't make proper use of their hospitability cause of the harsh rule in their country:( North Korea just fear to suffer the same destiny as Libya and Iraq did, and we all know what kind of quagmire that has evolved into!! Sometimes you have to look at the world from North Koreas perspective, I would've panted myself if I were a North Korean and had seen how close up USA is on them! With bases in South Korea and Japan.

How would've you felt when anything you did was seen as unnatural, and as a hostile action? Not everything North Korea has done can be recognized as hostile actions. We have to remember that Kim Jong Un's grandfather (Kim Il-Sung) is the only Korean to have drawn a plan to peacefully reunite the Korean Peninsula! You have to focus on the "good" sides about North Korea rather than trying to vainly improve the "bad" sides about a dictatorship. This is what USA has done against Iran during their Shah-era which ended in 1980 and is what USA still do with a dictatorship worse than North Korean, Saudi Arabia. It works, and the conditions in these countries have improved and are improving.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

And if NK threatens Taiwan, Fiji, etc what will happen?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It is no different to Trump threatening' North Korea 'with fire and the fury like the world has never seen''.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Let's reduce the U.S. mainland into ashes and darkness. Let's vent our spite with mobilization of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now,"

He's lost the plot. Absolutely clinically insane.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

There's supposedly a treaty (signed by Japan and America) that if an ally is attacked they are duty bound to assist. America has never reacted (other than to wag a finger) whenever these NK missiles fly in the direction of or over Japan... why?

I still want to know why that missile that flew over Japan wasn't intercepted... does America have any desire to defend the country they have bases in? I'm beginning to wonder...

As for NK's threat... isn't that the same sort of rhetoric they've been threatening with SK for the past decade or so? I remember when Kim Jong-Il died and NK threatened to turn Seoul into a burning sea of fire about five times for 'not showing respect' or humility. NK seem to be all talk... but once in a while they can scare the pants off you...

If ever there was a case for regime change... this is it.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I always seek to be inured to idiocy and not drawn into pointless debates with bizarre trolls, and I still find myself aghast at the defense some put forth in North Korea's government's action. Japan and the USA are not the paragons of virtue they aspire to be, but they try against forces inside and out to be so... NK? CCP? Russia? And all the other places farcically lauded by parties in this blog? Suck it up in your own screwed up countries where you ever-attempt to keep others down, live your lives in fear and hate, Good luck with your self-loathing dreams of dragging the world down. We might have to suffer the temporary madness of an Abe or a Trump, but your dictatorships will not prevail. Sic semper tyrannis.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

One day in future I don't want to think there will be no bridges between South Korea to China to have all that land sank (resembling Google Night) and that Juche regime would be an once upon a time story.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ignore it.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Resonance of Melancholy, Im curious about the Kims plan for peaceful reunification.

In the plan, who gets to govern reunified korea? perhaps you can fill us in.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Oh, li'l Kim! Are you serious? He's playing a very dangerous game and he's winning. He is playing it up to all his so-called 'enemies' and threatening the impossible, but he is opening himself up for a pre-emptive strike that will wipe out him and his regime of propaganda. Personally, I have no qualms with nations wiping out his regime and freeing the other 20 odd million residents from his tyranny. However, China will use it as an excuse to retaliate. If China is so set on diplomatic solutions, why don't they step in and slap this little brat up the side of the head and tell him to wake up to himself?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Thunderbird2Today  03:30 pm JST

There's supposedly a treaty (signed by Japan and America) that if an ally is attacked they are duty bound to assist. America has never reacted (other than to wag a finger) whenever these NK missiles fly in the direction of or over Japan... why?

Probably because flying a missile over someone, while terribly irresponsible, is not in and of itself an attack.

smithinjapanToday  03:31 pm JST

Ignore it.

Yup. If anything, these kinds of boastful comments of the propaganda office are proof that whatever rhetoric they're spouting about their missile capabilities, they aren't as powerful as they pretend. Only someone with zero education whatsoever could believe that a nuclear weapon could sink any of the major islands in Japan. It's meant for consumption by the folks back home and a handful of paranoid nutters on the net.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

How about treat like a crying kid -- just ignore the guy.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I still want to know why that missile that flew over Japan wasn't intercepted... 

The political reason would be not wanting to further escalate the situation by intercepting a missile that was not on an impact trajectory.

The technical reason(s) would be that the missile, at an altitude of 500km+ was completely out of range of the PAC-3 system, which is designed to intercept missiles in the terminal phase; less than 50km. Simply put, the Patriot was designed to take out low trajectory short to midrange missiles like scuds. If it ain't falling on you, the PAC can't hit it.

The missile could have been intercepted in the orbital (500km+) phase by sea-based SM-3s, but to ensure safety from falling fragments, the intercept would have been in international waters, adding another political reason.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Surely if a missile is on a downward trajectory and the SAMs take it out... wouldn't that create a potential airburst? Wouldn't it be better to take the missile out at the moment it enters the country's air space?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I still want to know why that missile that flew over Japan wasn't intercepted... 

It takes 15 minutes from launch to impact across the Japan sea. This means Japan has around 8 minutes to intercept it over the Japan sea. It takes at least five minutes to confirm it is a missile and its trajectory. This means the Japanese military have around 2-3 minutes to shoot down a missile from the DPRK. It just aint gonna happen!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Easier said than done, will it enter J airspace or climb and fly over.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

He is talking crap like this as he knows he doesn't have the full capability to nuke Japan yet, but what's going to happen once he gets the capability and his nuke arsenal grows to close to 1,000 strong? Likely we will all look back at these past years and say how stupid it was of us to ignore the moron

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Only takes 1 nuke doing an airburst, following EMP will set most of Japan back 100years(anything electronic will be fried)..

This is a real scenario and danger. Do the same a few times over the USA, etc and...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The irony of all this is that North Korea has not been involved in a war for over six decades. This sort of talk is nothing new. The danger is that all of this silly talk could lead to catastrophe. For us and for them. Time for some sane talks between the North Koreans and us.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Couldn't the US just use one of those electro-magnetic pulse things that shuts down all electronic devices thus rendering NK's weapon systems useless? Surely the US has such hi-tech weaponry tucked away somewhere.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

how long can someone like this be ignored - until he has 100, 200 ICBMs? people want to assume hes not irrational. what uf he is?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

EMP is a pulse hard to control and limit, China,SK might get hit too.

Example of EMP Sun Flares which can shutdown Satellites in Orbit.

We are 8 light minutes from the sun.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Questions that everyone needs to ponder about.

Who benefits most from this bluster?

Why now? What's changed?

Why the continuous refusal by the us to sign an official peace treaty?
-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Surely if a missile is on a downward trajectory and the SAMs take it out... wouldn't that create a potential airburst? Wouldn't it be better to take the missile out at the moment it enters the country's air space?

Yes, if a missile was on an impact trajectory, the PACs can intercept it. The chances of a nuclear explosion are close to zero, as nuclear weapons are timed and fused to arm and detonate about 1km above ground for maximum damage. The worst outcome would be a slight "dirty bomb" effect.

About intercepting a missile "the moment it enters Japan's airspace." The interceptor also has to climb to the same altitude of the missile and move into the opposite trajectory. To do so would require the interceptor to be launched almost immediately after the target missile was launched, and then tracked and adjusted in-flight.

In a state of declared war, this would not be a problem. However launching interceptors at a missile if yet-undetermined course in peacetime is yet again, another political problem.

So the choices are very slim indeed. Either hit the missile before it's an identified threat, or wait till it is about to fall on you.

Optimally, both measures would be taken, when in a state of declared war.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Add in a countries territory only extends so far up, above that it it international airspace.

Shooting anything down in international airspace has problems associated.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I hate to hear this however there is some assurance in the fact that they know the reality; if they attack they will be wiped-out.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"Despite the tension, South Korea's Unification Ministry said it planned to provide $8 million through the U.N. World Food Programme and UNICEF to help infants and pregnant women in the North."

And this is really what the fuss is all about, only that the money won't be used to help the infants and women of course.

And forget about war, South won't allow it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Walk away. Why can't we just avoid provoking him and just walk away? Laugh all you want at his threats but would you do this to someone holding a gun to your head?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wallace Fred

Why the continuous refusal by the us to sign an official peace treaty?

The armistice was signed by the UN not the USA.

North Korea has announced that it will no longer abide by the armistice at least 6 times, in the years 1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2013.

North Korea largely forgets the UN took action against them in the Korean War not the USA unilaterally. Looks like most of the rest of the world forgets this too. They also forget that the only reason there is a North Korea today is because of Chinese intervention after they were pushed back to China. Their bluster is mostly aimed at the US because it is an easy target for their hatred and propaganda and because the USA backs South Korea.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

North Korea just fear to suffer the same destiny as Libya and Iraq did, and we all know what kind of quagmire that has evolved into!! 

You are comparing apples and pizzas. (Not even oranges.) If you know anything about Korea, as you seem to, you must know that it can't be compared to the Middle East. Almost all of the countries in the Middle East are artificial lines in the sand drawn by the UK. With in those countries, there are competing tribes, competing religions, competing clans. The only thing that made them countries was a strong dictator forcing them to get along. Like Yugoslavia, as well.

North Koreans all share the same culture, the same history. There are no tribes or religions competing for supremacy. Take out the fat boy, and the people will cooperate with each other. To what end, I don't know. But I could safely bet my life savings that they won't turn to civil war. Once the Kim regime is gone, the nation will start to heal. Simple as that.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

for its"never-to-be-condoned crimes against our people", an apparent reference to Japan's wartime aggression.

Er, no. Korea was a part of the Japanese empire during the Pacific War and Koreans, as subjects of the Emperor, served in the Japanese military. I suppose the writer wanted to refer to crimes committed during Japan's annexation of Korea, from 1910 to 1945.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

A psychoanalyst would have a career with this nutcase. Again I suggest he Google"Ohio class submarines".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I'd just like to point out, that If N. Korea was attacked, China or Russia would not come Running to their rescue.

General MacArthur voiced the same mistaken conviction in 1950.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

NCIS RerunsToday 08:04 pm JSTI'd just like to point out, that If N. Korea was attacked, China or Russia would not come Running to their rescue.

General MacArthur voiced the same mistaken conviction in 1950.,

Well, it wasn't a complete mistake then either, while China sent troops the Soviets did not, limiting themselves to advisors and pilots. World circumstances are different today and I have to agree that China and Russia, while seeking to hedge their interests as best they can, will not "come running" to North Korea's rescue.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Nice Joke Kimmy

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hey Kim! Will you also threaten to nuke China and Russia if you are brave enough? They also voted for the sanctions!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

54 years since the allied Armistice with N. Korea, ongoing negotiations, multiple sanctions yet, N. Korea has attempted to hold her neighbors and the United States hostage and I continue to read comments that recommend continued discussions with the N. Korean regime (one little fat suicidal fanatic) in the "hope" he want continue to build up an Arsenal of WMDs. In the words of Sgt Muldune of Green Beret movie fame "it doesn't take a hit from one of the weapons to know my enemy is out to kill/destroy ME". We're not talking about being exposed to egg yoke here, we're talking about being exposed to RADIATION. And the rest results are many many more times stronger than Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Wake up Asia this is occurring in your backyard.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Maybe if we gift North Korea to China all or this will stop.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan secretly developed two types of missile interception system. They are not enough now. Needs attacking with ICBM against Pyongyang. Hope Japan is secretly developed nuclear ICBM to destroy N Korea.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Abe needs to act very quickly. Trump will be too busy to visit hurricane damaged Florida. Never mind what S Korea does. Think about Japan first.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan secretly developed two types of missile interception system. They are not enough now.

Japan has two interception systems bought from the US.

They are both capable of intercepting an NK ICBM if the political/constitutional restraints weren't an issue.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

All I know is that South Korea, Japan, allies MUST have a very strong self defense military. Strong. Despots like Phat Boi understand nothing but power.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"...called for the breakup of the Security Council, which it called "a tool of evil" made up of "money-bribed" countries that move at the order of the United States."

Didn't know Russia and China moved at the Americans orders. Apparently they didn't get the memo...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Kim can and will say anything he wants because he does it while leaning on 'de' fence he shares with China. Nothing will happen without their say-so unless Kim is dumb enough to fire a missile at someone. What is REALLY weird are all these fan-boys, grinning and wetting themselves around him. Are THAT many people ready brainwashed? Do they practice this at home? How long do they keep it up for before their faces return to a grimace? Is there a department whichs check each video or photo to find someone not hysterical (and say goodbye two the lineage)? (I recall many many years an article about that.) What will happen? I can only see one of two outcomes. 1. Kim flips the switch and that is the end of NKPR, but hopefully not us. 2. Kim backs down and dismantles nukes programme in exchange for aid. 1 is too horrible to imagine despite the moronic cheering from those well out of harms way. 2 is hard to imagine because how will Kim 'sell' it to his fan-boys? How would he explain in relation to Juche? Actually there is a 3rd option which involves the physical removal of Kim and his immediate lineage, the installation of a rational Kim (hell, make one up - plenty in the phone book) that will lead to aid. But how do you rehabilitate this country? At least with East Germany etc. they knew the truth about the West. This population mostly does not.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If he's going to do it I wish he'd hurry up and get on with it. All this endless, grandiose bollocks NK keeps spouting is intensely dull.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Sadly the Japanese people are far far behind in their understanding and appreciation of what is happening. Probably all of you who are participating here in this forum although highly opinionated may be much more involved and aware of the situation and with differing but probably much better perspective.

Even NHK and Fuji TV do not really cover the threat and situation as something which the entire nation should be concerned and involved with. Most televised news is "top down" with so called educated professors and political elites voicing their opinions. With readership so low, even the newspapers who do cover the problems quite well with substantial research, cannot reach the needed younger population that must ultimately pay the price for the future of this country.

Problem is too many are too busy trying not to work hard or trying to enjoy too many unproductive and meaningless pleasures that drains their hard earned income, forcing them to work more without knowing they are being "used".

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

This photo with him and his girlfriend on his arm is tooo funny.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Send this "short fingered little fat man" to the gallows for creating problems in the Far East!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Resonance of MelancholySep. 14  02:58 pm JST

North Korea is actually a beatiful country with nice and hospitable poeple! Japan should especially acknowledge this fact since you'd colonized the Korean peninsula for 45 years.

Exactly what point are you trying to make here? Imperial Japan also colonized South Korea for the exact same time period but they are a prosperous democracy that doesn't constantly talk about "nuking" other countries. And South Korea doesn't kidnap Japanese civilians. In fact South Korea has even more civilians (400 or so) kidnapped by the same North Koreans as well.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

thepersoniamnowSep. 14  02:54 pm JST It's not gunna happen. The second NK does anything against either Japan, SK, or the USA it will be invaded by China from the North , and the USA and SK from the South.

This is what concerns me the most. Just as the Soviet Union never wanted a reunited Germany, China does not want a reunited Korea.

Even if the N. Korea used nuclear weapons against S. Korea or Japan, the U.S. never would use them in retaliation. How could we without controlling where the fallout drifted? We don't need to anyway as we could destroy N. Korea's military capability in less than a couple of hours with conventional weapons.

Curse you Deng for being so clear-headed about the future. Asia in particular and the world in general would have been much better off with a still weak and backward PRC.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Jeff Huffman

One thing I have not thought of (and I am a bit of a history buff) is why China would NOT want a unified Korea. Care to expound more on this angle?

thepersoniamnow@hotmail.com

0 ( +0 / -0 )

theres a lot of scared brown noses in that photo.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan installed PAC3 to four prefectures. Now it revealed AGIS Ashore existence. So defending is ok but when the fat boy declares Japan as his target, do Onodera and Abe have made in Japan ICBM.?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

CNN will televise scenes of N Korea tomorrow. See that it is not a poor country we believed for years.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

His wife is not shown. Rumooor is she is pregnant just like last two times disappearance..

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"Let's reduce the U.S. mainland into ashes and darkness.

DT is actually doing a better job at doing just that

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Despite the tension, South Korea's Unification Ministry said it planned to provide $8 million through the U.N. World Food Programme and UNICEF to help infants and pregnant women in the North."

Thankfully, Kim's cronies and the military won't see a crumb of it.

> >

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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