How best to deal with North Korea

[pjohns]

A few minutes ago, I heard, on the news, three proposals as to how to deal with North Korea, short of a full-fledged war.

In ascending order of aggression, they are as follows:

(1) Announce that any other country may have economic dealings--any economic dealings--with North Korea, or with the United States; but that it is quite impossible to deal with both--and enforce that, stringently.

This, or course, would doubtless entail our cutting all economic ties with China--which would leave some bureaucrats almost apoplectic--but it would certainly be okay with me.

(2) Shoot down any tested North Korean missile during its ascent stage.

(3) Put increased pressure upon China to rein in its client state, by announcing that we intend to sell nuclear missiles to Japan--China's arch-enemy--unless China stops the DPRK in its tracks. And truly mean it.

Personally, I would be fine with any of these...

[Cthulhu]

If North Korea does anything aggressive on a military fashion, send them back to the Stone age.

We're still technically at war.

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[Common Sense]

China needs to do more.

[Cletus]

Having China on board would be essential for any action from outside, but the best way to go about getting rid of Kim is to have his own inner circle remove him from power.

[waltky]

Granny says bomb `em to smithereens.

[Ransom]

China needs to do more.

Trump's view as well.

[Ransom]

I will tell you how not to deal with North Korea. What not to do. 1) Don't apply the @donttread method of geopolitics. Don't pretend it's not happening. Don't believe that should you withdraw your 30,000 troops the North Koreans will cease development of intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear weapon technology. Stop threatening South Korea, Japan, and the entire Pacific Rim. China will step up, China won't let anything get out of hand. 2) Don't apply the @Peter1469 reaction method of opposition. Merely respond to whatever they are doing, this also calls for the withdrawal of forces in Korea. South Korea can handle itself, regional powers can handle any power shifts or aggressive military movements by North Korea. China and Russia will prevent them from further developing their nuclear capabilities. Containment. Sanction.

3) Or the @Ethereal favorite....blockade. Starvation. The complete disruption of the North Korean economy, a holocaust of sorts to stamp out the bad people.

We increase forces in Korea. We add offensive firepower. We know the exact layout of the Korean Peninsula better than the North Koreans do. We call bluffs, we snarl and growl......and we do so at China. Trump has this correct. You tell the Chinese Premier, either you f'n do something about this....or we are.

[donttread]

I will tell you how not to deal with North Korea. What not to do. 1) Don't apply the @donttread method of geopolitics. Don't pretend it's not happening. Don't believe that should you withdraw your 30,000 troops the North Koreans will cease development of intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear weapon technology. Stop threatening South Korea, Japan, and the entire Pacific Rim. China will step up, China won't let anything get out of hand. 2) Don't apply the @Peter1469 reaction method of opposition. Merely respond to whatever they are doing, this also calls for the withdrawal of forces in Korea. South Korea can handle itself, regional powers can handle any power shifts or aggressive military movements by North Korea. China and Russia will prevent them from further developing their nuclear capabilities. Containment. Sanction.

3) Or the @Ethereal favorite....blockade. Starvation. The complete disruption of the North Korean economy, a holocaust of sorts to stamp out the bad people.

We increase forces in Korea. We add offensive firepower. We know the exact layout of the Korean Peninsula better than the North Koreans do. We call bluffs, we snarl and growl......and we do so at China. Trump has this correct. You tell the Chinese Premier, either you f'n do something about this....or we are.

Of course not, we should instead follow the @Ransom way and attack, manipulate and control everyfuckingbody until we have too many enemies to deal with. Nice plan Mr. Dinosaur.

[Peter1469]

Experts: North Korea’s missile was a ‘real ICBM’ — and a grave milestone

Upate to the latest missile test.

The North Korean missile that soared high above the Sea of Japan on Tuesday was hailed by state-run television as a “shining success.” But to U.S. officials, it was a most unwelcome surprise: a weapon with intercontinental range, delivered years before most Western experts believed such a feat possible.

Hours after the apparently successful test, intelligence agencies continued to run calculations to determine precisely how the missile, dubbed the Hwasong-14, performed in its maiden flight. But the consensus among missile experts was that North Korea had achieved a long-sought milestone, demonstrating a capability of striking targets thousands of miles from its coast.


Initial Pentagon assessments said North Korea had tested a “land-based, intermediate-range” missile that landed in the Sea of Japan just under 600 linear miles from its launch point, Panghyon Airfield, near the Chinese border. The State Department and the Pentagon later confirmed North Korea had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. Government and independent analyses showed the missile traveling in a steep arc that topped out at more than 1,740 vertical miles above the Earth’s surface.

[donttread]

Experts: North Korea’s missile was a ‘real ICBM’ — and a grave milestone

Upate to the latest missile test.

So either with all the spying and intervention we do our experts were
A) Still very wrong in an important situation
OR
B) Simply beating the drims of war with half truths.