What to do about North Korea?

Cliff

So North Korea is stepping up its missile tests. They say they have the capability to reach the USA. They also say they have a nuclear capability.
Even if that's in doubt today, in a few years time, I am sure it will be possible.

Yesterday, Trump promised in very colourful language that N.Korea would face 'Fire and Fury'.
Today they responded saying they were considering Guam as a target. The American base is home to about 6000 US personnel.

There is also the Trump issue. What ever he does, his critics will say it is wrong. But any president would have to face the same hard facts. As President he is responsible for the safety of Americans. His critics should be looking at what to do about North Korea objectively, rather that pulling Trump down. That might expose the country to attack.

South Korea would suffer terribly if there were any hostilities.

Then there are the big players in this area . China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. Are they going to sit tight while it all kicks off?

Basically a no win situation.

But can the US just do nothing? What if North Korea strikes first?
North Korea says considering missile strike on Guam - BBC News

Jezza99

We can only hope that they don't launch such a first strike ,I can't see how that would be in their interests. While I understand people worrying about Trump going off half cocked, I think the senior people in the US military would stop him doing anything really stupid.

But overall, it's a worry, I don't think we can do anything other than impose sanctions for now ,even though they will hurt the ordinary people .Not heard Corbyn pontificating on the subject ,would be interesting to hear his views.

Cliff

He should go over there are try some 'dialog'. I think he might realise, very quickly, that it isn't that easy in real life as it is at a peace rally.

Trump has said that any escalation will be met with a response.
But in this game, if you make a threat, you have to be sure it can be carried out. I am not sure it can...

tapzilla2k

There are no good options for dealing with North Korea. Truth is North Korea can devastate South Korea in a matter of hours without using nuclear weapons. From what I remember they have artillery pieces buried in various locations that are able to fire, alongside tunnels to transport weapons and troops to the front lines. As far as the US carrying out a pre-emptive nuclear strike ? They'll have a very angry China to deal with, if the nuclear fallout spreads over into China. China has nuclear weapons. So there is every possibility that this could go to hell in a handbasket very quickly if it's not handled with care.

If it's true the US watched Kim Jong Un at a previous Missile test for over an hour, they should have taken him out there and then. He's taken to night launches of Missiles with Kim Jong Un lookalikes scattered around apparently, upon hearing about that.

Enki

I've always believed North Korea to be a perfect foil for China and lesser extent Russia true intent, it's no coincidence there has been a build of milatray hardware in the Pacific over disputed islands between America and China, with Russia and American diplomacy continues to deteriorate.
And now North Korea pops up with its threats. Both countries will want something in return when asked to influence North Korea regime.
It's often said that China and Russia don't want humanitarian crisis on their borders with North Korea, they are not overly concerned about humanitarian issues within their own borders. North Korea is China and Russia strong arm tactic.

domtheone

Send in the A Team.  Take KJ out, alongside any of his crazy military sidekicks.

Let a non nutcase rule for a while.

Regime change.  What can go wrong

Bl4ckGryph0n

Even Russia and China are supporting the UN sanctions which has excalated it. Kim and Donald are two peas in the same pot....I could swear this is a family dispute...
                                                                                 

They are both equally silly and childish, and to be honest I believe either is itching to press that big 'red' button without thinking through the consequences...

Whilst it is far from our beds, I do think it is a deeply concerning situation.

krish

Wonder if Trump will use their common friend Dennis Rodman as a back channel. He may well have used him once or twice already.

Jezza99

Markets predictablly not liking it - FTSE currently down .84%, Nikkei down 1.29%......

Suave

Hi,

The Korean peninsula has been a vassal state for the Chinese for about a thousand years (apart from the small blips in recent history when it was shortly occupied by the Japanese & then split into two.

China still has NK as it's vassal & this is the reason why NK exists & continues to exist. They are two faces of hard line communism supporting each other. China does not want a US armed & supported ally directly on it's borders & NK needs China to feed & support it.

NK relies almost entirely on China for it's existence & would collapse within months without Chinese support. If the West & other major global players were to abandon China economically & remove manufacturing etc from China to other parts of the world it would pose China a very serious challenge indeed - does it risk huge & massive losses to it's economy to support it's tyrannical cousin or will it then chose to protect it's own interests instead?

China has always played a very duplicitous game (nature of a totalitarian communist regime I guess) on the world stage & as history shown shown will always support NK unless it has to face a very real & lasting threat to its economy & global expansionist agenda.

As to China agreeing to new sanctions on NK - imho, it is all meaningless & worthless tbh - it is just the usual propaganda & marketing nonsense China engages on publicly on the world stage but then violates at every turn behind the scenes supplying oxygen the NK needs to survive.