Nuclear Armageddon is here... (Wheres The Satellite?)

[LordCraigus]

They aren't testing a long-range missile. They are preparing to launch a rocket to space carrying a satellite to set into orbit.

Because such a program is the natural next step for a prosperous country like North Korea; only 9 other countries in the world have launched such satellites which, for me at least, puts this particular launch by an economically unstable but highly militant nation in perspective. It also wouldn't be the first time that space programs were used to test and help develop launch systems for nuclear weapons, for example the space race during the Cold War without a doubt directly affected and contributed to the nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the US.

So in the end I'm not saying it isn't to launch a satellite into space but I personally don't believe that's where the purpose of the launch ends. It seems the US and Japan are concerned as well, having already threatened to shoot it down.

 

[Flying-Emu]

If it's actually just a satellite, then the Koreans are justified to respond, I do believe.
If not... what's one missile gonna do?

If Japan knocks down that one missile, then NK will retaliate, which will drag the United States in on the side of Japan, which will drag several Western countries into the fold, and before you know it, we've got another World War.

One nuclear missile is all it takes to flatten Tokyo. One nuclear missile will cause other nations to arm theirs and possibly launch them.

Have you ever read the theory of nuclear winter or summer? If one person uses a nuke, the other countries will respond in turn. If only fifty bombs the size of the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (By the way, the H-bomb, which I believe is the modern nuclear missile, is ten times the strength of an A-bomb. Which means five H-bombs.), the global cycle of heating and cooling will be so devastated by the massive amount of nuclear fallout and smoke that the world food supply will undoubtedly be brought to its knees.

It's never the question of what one missile can do. It's the question of what missiles will grow from the ashes of that one.

 

[McClaud]

The amount of paranoia about something that won't happen is so staggering.

Look people, I'm ex-military and even I'm not worried about it. North Korea does this same song and dance every two years or so. Back in August of 1998, they launched a rocket over Japan and into the ocean and all everyone did was watch it crash into the ocean. The Taepo Dong-1 missile used actually deployed a satellite. And then everyone promptly forgot about it apparently. Then in 1999, they tested the Taepo Dong-2 missile. We did the same thing - watched it fly over Japan and hit the ocean. I remember the civilian population clamoring about nuclear war then, too.

I can go back even farther. They've done this same thing in 1984, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006 and now in 2009. Every single time, no war because the missiles are easily tracked and not hard to shoot down. Every single time, paranoia sets in with the public. Every single time, I have to sit here and listen to people talk about nuclear war.

So relax, guys. It's not going to start WWIII. There's so many overriding factors that would stop North Korea from doing anything stupid. China being the primary factor. Remember China conducting the test to shoot down satellites? I'll give you two guesses as to one of the reasons why they want that technology, and the first one doesn't count.

 

[Rigs83]

If it's actually just a satellite, then the Koreans are justified to respond, I do believe.
If not... what's one missile gonna do?

Theres about 20 million people in the greater Los Angeles area, 100 million in Japan, 3 million in the area of Vancouver, 50 million in South Korea, and then of course there's China, but I'm not sure of their relations with North Korea.

One nuke in the right spot and a LOT of people die.

Many people would die but it's OK as long as it happens someplace far away and to people that don't look like you.
And China's relationship to North Korea is sort of like a relationship a man has with his much younger and dorky kid brother, namely he tends to try and fail at imitating you, does weird and creepy things when alone and wears your old and worn out hand me downs.

 

[Rigs83]

McCarthur wanted to do that fifty years ago during the Korean War, his plan was to nuke the North and then China when they entered the fray so President Eisenhower said, and I lie, "hell no you nut" and so he had to retire and do his famous "Old soldiers just fade away speech..."

 

[Rigs83]

Japan has major military targets?

Yes the the Naruto and Hello Kitty factories. That feline is a massive weapon of distraction and a ninja wearing a orange jumpsuit is lethally stupid.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

If its a weapon, we shoot it down. If its not we leave it alone, problem solved. Obviously we tell the difference by whether or not it goes towards space or not.
If it does hit, North Korea is gonna be in some deep shit, what with the entire freakin planet telling them not to and all.

But a ballistic missile goes into space then re-enters...

 

[RavingPenguin]

But a ballistic missile goes into space then re-enters...

well, that throws a wrench in the plan. Though when it comes back from space, according to Korea, it should be empty and we can blow it up anyway.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Japan shoots down rocket. NK bomb Japan anti-missile fleet. Possible retaliation. Then everyone begging for peace. I very highly doubt the USA will get involved in another war considering their reputation as of late. China... maybe but probably not at the risk of getting the USA involved. Russia, well their aren't going to care. Conflict over.

Except for the fact that NK would therefore have been lying to the entire world, which would create further political tension. In addition, that would mean that NK is striving to achieve nuclear proliferation, which is once again against their promises. It may not be the start of a war, but if they're actually launching a rocket, it's not going to be well liked.

The US could very well get involved, considering Japan is one of their major trading partners, and we found out during the World Wars that it's difficult to remain neutral in any conflict and still continue trading to the status quo.

I'm not saying something big will happen. I'm just pointing out a few flaws.

 

[Sparrow]

Hey, two powerful countries and America destroy themselves, and Europe is unscathed. I call that a win in my books.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Japan shoots down rocket. NK bomb Japan anti-missile fleet. Possible retaliation. Then everyone begging for peace. I very highly doubt the USA will get involved in another war considering their reputation as of late. China... maybe but probably not at the risk of getting the USA involved. Russia, well their aren't going to care. Conflict over.

Except for the fact that NK would therefore have been lying to the entire world, which would create further political tension. In addition, that would mean that NK is striving to achieve nuclear proliferation, which is once again against their promises. It may not be the start of a war, but if they're actually launching a rocket, it's not going to be well liked.

The US could very well get involved, considering Japan is one of their major trading partners, and we found out during the World Wars that it's difficult to remain neutral in any conflict and still continue trading to the status quo.

I'm not saying something big will happen. I'm just pointing out a few flaws.

And we are kind of obligated to help Japan seeing as we agreed to do their offensive fighting for them if the need arose. Because they aren't allowed their own 'offensive' military forces in order to avoid their previous imperialist expansion.

 

[Flying-Emu]

And we are kind of obligated to help Japan seeing as we agreed to do their offensive fighting for them if the need arose. Because they aren't allowed their own 'offensive' military forces in order to avoid their previous imperialist expansion.

Is that the 5-5-3 law? I can't remember if that was post WWI or post WWII.

I think it must have been after WWII, because Japan didn't play as big a role in WWI. I love history.

But yes, we would have to help them, lest we be seen as the big asshole who says "Well, it's my ball now and you don't get to play with it."

The ball being a military. Stupid stretched metaphors.

 

[Spawn_Of_Kyuss]

Question.

Where the fuck does Korea keep getting all this money from?

 

[Inverse Skies]

Yes but at the same time North Korea has nothing to lose.

Ahh, so what's more dangerous? A country with nothing to gain or nothing to lose?

I can't think of a war which was started by a country that had nothing to lose, every war I can think of was started by countries who wanted to gain something - land, power, statement over terrorists - it just seems that North Korea has absolutely nothing to gain here at all.

 

[mooncalf]

Question.

Where the fuck does Korea keep getting all this money from?

WoW Gold Farming.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Question.

Where the fuck does Korea keep getting all this money from?

WoW Gold Farming.

No I think that's South Korea.

 

[Spawn_Of_Kyuss]

Question.

Where the fuck does Korea keep getting all this money from?

WoW Gold Farming.

Don't got no computers in the North, boy.

EDIT: Hot damn, beaten to it.

 

[mooncalf]

Question.

Where the fuck does Korea keep getting all this money from?

WoW Gold Farming.

Don't got no computers in the North, boy.

EDIT: Hot damn, beaten to it.

Wow, Rice Farming?

 

[Zeraki]

I was born in 1986, so by the time I was old enough to understand what war was, the Cold War was over. I never really got to experience the Cold War paranoia for myself, but I read a lot about it. This reminds me of a story I read about the launch of Sputnik in 1957. At first everyone thought it was such an amazing feat for humanity, then the media and politicians poked their fear mongering noses into it and everyone started freaking out. After that people were saying that World War III was just around the corner, much like most people are doing now(52 years later). Personally, after reading the history of the Cold War, this doesn't phase me in the slightest when you compare it to something like the Cuban Missile Crisis.

So now I finally get to experience some Cold War-esque paranoia, and I have to be honest, it kind of makes me laugh to see people saying the world is on the brink of doom because a country says it wants to send a satellite into outer space. We've come full circle, right back to the whole Sputnik situation.