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N Korea reportedly has medium-range missile division

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OssaanAmerica, i am fully aware of the state of N Korea and the military. However the fact remains, they are a much more dangerous and fanatical regime and military than Iraq has ever been.

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stevecpfc at 05:29 AM JST - 10th March YuriOtani, North Korean military may be out dated, but they are larger, >more committed and have better defences, ie; underground bunkers and a >huge amount of artilary hidden in mountain areas.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/pentagon-orders-massive-bunker-busters-for-underground-wmd/

The NKPLA are larger in number, more malnourished, shorter in stature, more poorly equipped, and are more comitted to die for their Dear Leader which they are welcome to do.

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I don't know, just playing with my imaginataion out loud here. If NK were to attack another country, thier location would make them a sitting target for thier large army. They wouldn't be able to move thier Army into China or SK in time to escape the wrath that would come for them. If they try to run by sea?.....LOL! That's even more hilarious!

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YuriOtani, North Korean military may be out dated, but they are larger, more committed and have better defences, ie; underground bunkers and a huge amount of artilary hidden in mountain areas.

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“Yonhap news agency reported citing an unidentified South Korean government source.”

“said Ohm Tae-am of the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul.”

“said Baek Seung-joo of the same institute.”

I think I will wait until a reliable agency tells me what is happening before I take this story seriously.

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Do not see how this changes a thing. The North does not have the capability to launch a war of aggression and win. Its million man Army and 4 thousand tanks are only so many targets. The Americans went through a larger Iraqi Army without any problems armed with similar weapons. The Army of the North is overrated and this missile threat is as well. They just do not have the ability to take on a modern military and win.

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The dear little pipsqueak probably wouldn't start with nukes because the retaliation would be devestation of NK. I would guess that he might launch a conventional offensive and then threaten to use nukes when the US moved to intervene. But that's the problem with nukes. If you use them you are going to get the same in return. They aren't good offensive weapons no matter how offensive the pipsqueak's regime is.

If NKorea did so without Chinese approval NKOrea would become the latest Chinese province within a week.

I would applaud the Chinese if they were to toss lil Kimmie to the curb sooner rather than later. How about next week?

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smithinjapan;

I did get a kick out of your post telling others to "relax" and then following up with lots of words in capital letters and exclamation marks.

the US presence here is as valuable if not moreso to their nation as it is to the US, and that the current cabinet trying to throw that away

How exactly is the current cabinet trying the throw the US military presence away, as opposed to a realignment? I think you're operating from a false premise there. The J government is not trying to kick out the US military presence, full stop.

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That said, both of you, if they have more than enough rockets, and said >artillery plus their MILLION man army, where are they going to fire the >missiles, do you think?

Nowhere. Is there was the slightest inkling of that happening, China would not permit it. If NKorea did so without Chinese approval NKOrea would become the latest Chinese province within a week.

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They hardly can feed temselves and keep wasting resource preparing for an US invasion that never happen. In place of fear, I feel pity for them.

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But they would take much of SKorea and Japan (if possible) with them.

I've come to a similar conclusion. If NK were to try anything they would probably bum rush the DMZ and eventually overwhelm the forces stationed on the SK side of the boarder. The aftermath of such a venture would be anybodys guess. The staggering loss of life, however, would be sure bet.

I don't even think lil-Kim would try the nuclear option, not because he isn't crazy enough to use them but because his little dud rockets are more likely to blow up on the launch pad than do any substantial damage to the intended target.

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Unagi: Relax, bud. I know full well that South Korea would bear the brunt of any assault by North Korea, but they don't need nukes for that; they have so much artillery they could fire easily into Seoul there is no need for a detectable nuclear launch unless the want to hit further south.

Ossan: You need to relax a little as well. I know we don't get along much on most threads, but I'm not disagreeing with you here, believe it or not. What I WAS doing was twisting MrUSA's pony-tails a little and showing that the US presence here is as valuable if not moreso to their nation as it is to the US, and that the current cabinet trying to throw that away is nothing but detrimental, or nothing but hypocritical if they allow the subs you are talking about.

That said, both of you, if they have more than enough rockets, and said artillery plus their MILLION man army, where are they going to fire the missiles, do you think? Of course some would be directed to the southern parts of South Korea plus any US installations, but on top of that? CORRECT! JAPAN! You guys both know that, and MrUSA knows it, so why is that a separate topic?

Are you going to call it Japan bashing to point that out next? :)

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smithinjapan at 05:29 PM JST - 9th March First and foremost NKorea poses a threat to Japan

First and foremost NKorea poses a threat to South Korea. Secondly to all US forces in SKorea and Japan. Thirdly to Japan.

smithinjapan at 10:40 PM JST - 9th March The US could easily strike back from within and around South Korea. >Might take a bit for them to get in from Guam to help Japan, but hey >(darn it!). :)

If NKorea ever used even one nuke against any US ally , US Subs, the locations of which are not disclosed, would retaliate in kind in a matter of hours to the extent that NKorea would not only be unable to act offensively but it's defenses would be left wide open. Which is why China will never allow NKorea to actually start any kind of a real conflict.

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smithinjapn;

First and foremost NKorea poses a threat to Japan

Wrong, and you need to stop fixating on Japan. First and foremost North Korea poses a threat to South Korea. If you can't grasp that simple point, why bother posting here?

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Sorry... "they would TAKE much of SKorea and Japan with them"... not 'talk'.

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MrUSA: "No. It's still off-topic Mr. Smith. You're trying to start a debate about the troops in Okinawa, but this isn't the place for it."

Fine. So let's not talk about the troops in Okinawa, then. Let's just talk about who Japan would look for for help on this issue.... hmmmmm....

"... and use the few nukes they have, their more than 4,000 tanks would roll right through the ROK unless the US uses the nuclear option."

Of COURSE they would if NK used missiles -- it would be NK's suicide. But they would talk much of SKorea and Japan (if possible) with them. The US could easily strike back from within and around South Korea. Might take a bit for them to get in from Guam to help Japan, but hey (darn it!). :)

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it's the "fourth largest standing army in the world

It's not about quantity, it's about quality. If N. Korea made a threatening move and did strike a location with missles, the U.S. Military, JSDF, and the S. Korean Military would open a a nice can of 'quality' woop-ass even before the N. Korean military crossed the border.

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It's not the missiles they need to worry about, it's the army. At "nearly 1.2 million armed personnel", it's the "fourth largest standing army in the world". After they fire all their missiles, and use the few nukes they have, their more than 4,000 tanks would roll right through the ROK unless the US uses the nuclear option.

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I was just poking fun, but you actually made my li'l comment more on-topic than you think.

No. It's still off-topic Mr. Smith. You're trying to start a debate about the troops in Okinawa, but this isn't the place for it.

Moderator: No further discussion on this point please.

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MrUSA: About as off-topic as the topic itself, if NKorea gearing up is off-topic, of course. Bottom line is, if they ARE posing a threat, whom is it a threat to? First and foremost NKorea poses a threat to Japan -- and hence, it isn't as off-topic as you think. I was just poking fun, but you actually made my li'l comment more on-topic than you think.

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Time to kick those marines out of Okinawa!

Nice try, but it's off-topic.

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their annual drills aimed at improving their defense capabilities.

It seems to be every month that there are 'annual drills'.

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Time to kick those marines out of Okinawa!

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