N. Korea threat - real or propaganda?

Seems like I already know the answer based on the fact that it is not really being talked about here as real and people are still talking about feel good stuff.

Is the N. Korea stuff in the news real or just put there to make sure we don't relax after 9-11? It has been over a decade and Americans are starting to look upon the new restricted America to solve the Terrorist stuff as perhaps not a good thing. This could obviously turn into a policy shift to turn America back into a place where people are not assumed a criminal by default. This would be good for a good govt and bad for a govt that wants to know everything and control every action. Seems like we pretend to be the former and run headstrong into the later and don't even look back.

The unfortunate part is that I want to be able to know if some other country wants to attack us with the biggest weapons we should have never invented....but in reality, you don't know and can't know....but I still want to know.

Seems like most of you know or think it is not a real threat...or think our military is so ready to handle it that we have little to fear...or again, perhaps we would be showing concern for our tomorrow and talking about the "news".

So are we in an imminent threat from N. Korea? Do you think we will nuke them if they lash out? Would you be OK with that? Would you be worried about you or your kid's safety if we reacted that way in today's world-likely leading to 10,000's of new VERY DEDICATED terrorists for a generation or more-is more terrorism actually empowering to those with power? Or is this all hype?

Actually North Korea has been doing most of the sabre ratteling and we have slowly increased assets in the region. It is such a cry wolf story. One Kim threatens to go to war and amp up Nuke production. We agree to peace talks and trade food for them to shut up and stand down. But if we turn a deaf ear this time does the new Kim actually push the button?

NEVER underestimate an individual who is attempting to "prove"/exercise POWER........because that WILL be the one time you wished
you had "payed attention in a real way"......(having listened to the talking heads on both side of this issue,my "take-away" is NO ONE
really knows and the present stance is to exercise an abundance of caution.)

I think that sooner or later he is going to have to put up or shut up. I'm hoping for him to shut up but sometimes those mouthy litter twerps need a backhand. I think that we have enough assets in the area to knock down anything he may launch. I would hope that the US would have some restrain and respond with conventional weaponry since it would be a quick fight since the NK's wouldn't last long on the battle field without food and fuel.

The bad part will be the collateral damage since he puts his subjects into harms way to protect his military assets and he knows how we feel about killing innocents.

And new Kim is trying to establish that he is qualified to rule the country. So does he do this with a real attack like the earlier shelling of a South Korean island, or does he ratchet that up this time with an attack on a ROK military base or longe range missile launch?

Either one of those decisions will most likely be his last

on that note wrote: Seems like most of you know or think it is not a real threat...or think our military is so ready to handle it that we have little to fear...or again, perhaps we would be showing concern for our tomorrow and talking about the "news".

So are we in an imminent threat from N. Korea? Do you think we will nuke them if they lash out? Would you be OK with that? Would you be worried about you or your kid's safety if we reacted that way in today's world-likely leading to 10,000's of new VERY DEDICATED terrorists for a generation or more-is more terrorism actually empowering to those with power? Or is this all hype?

[bluebox=:3af7s9q2]Off Topic: A good majority of people around here think news is about who has bigger muscles, Dems or Repubs.[/bluebox:3af7s9q2]

On Topic:
The U.S MAINLAND isn't in immediate danger, but we have plenty of assets and allies within their range and they ARE in danger. Shrugging off what that little puke stain Kim says would be idiotic and extremely dangerous, but we are now very present and aware in the region and anything he tries we'll see and squash. We certainly aren't ignoring NK. However, in the same regard we can't be too aggressive, as was pointed out by one of our generals today, because it's just backing the dog into the corner even further. A volatile situation indeed.
No, I don't think we'd nuke 'em, waste of a good missile and way to devastating to the innocent. We'd go in on the ground with conventional weapons, and likely use guided bombs and good ole A-10 Warthogs imo. To answer the other half of your question (so to speak), no, I wouldn't be okay with nuking the place. I feel differently about that particular region versus what has been happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's for a different thread, but it still kind of coincides with this one. We haven't nuked a damn thing over in the desert, but they hate us none the less. The damage we have inflicted over a decade is equal if not more than if we HAD dropped a "big one" on 'em, and look at the dedicated terrorism out of those areas. NK already hates our guts, and whether or not we demolish their home isn't going to make a big difference in their attitude, imo, but blowing the hell out of them will just put sh** icing on the sh** cake.
There might be a little "hype" OTN, but the threat is serious and if NK does anything (launch a missile intended to strike or start shelling the hell out of populated areas of SK) we won't stand by and watch and we'll be in it for the long haul, along with our allies.

I would guess that he is looking to gain some footing for negotiating a relaxation of some of the embargoes. The country is on the verge of collapse, either they need more global trade, or they need to take assets from somewhere else.

Jekyll wrote: Shrugging off what that little puke stain Kim says would be idiotic and extremely dangerous, but we are now very present and aware in the region and anything he tries we'll see and squash. We certainly aren't ignoring NK. However, in the same regard we can't be too aggressive, as was pointed out by one of our generals today, because it's just backing the dog into the corner even further. A volatile situation indeed.

I agree that we can't be too aggressive for your same reasons. However, if we simply ignore him, will he react like a toddler who's seeking attention and keeps pushing the vase toward the edge of the table until it crashes to the ground in order to get that attention?

Per the BBC.......the MOST critical factor is a "mis-understanding". Interpreting an action and REACTING instead of analyzing......remember the movie "FAIL SAFE" circa 1976 or so?.........the FAIL SAFE factor is by far the most worrisome......JMO