IGX

A photo released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Friday showed Mr. Kim conferring with his top generals on what the agency called “plans to strike the mainland U.S.” A military chart behind them showed what appeared to be trajectories of North Korean missiles hitting major cities in the United States.

Despite the increasingly belligerent rhetoric and new images emerging from the North Korean regime, analysts believe its missiles are not capable of striking targets as far away as the US mainland and are not, as yet, capable of delivering a nuclear payload.

The images of Kim surrounded by his officers and diagrams of targets in the US are designed for a domestic consumption and to demonstrate the young leader's mastery of military affairs, experts believe

vern wrote:They're testing the new broad in charge of South Korea.

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

U.S. officials say they still believe that China, which provides food and energy to the North, is the key to restraining it. Officials say they hope to work out a stronger collaboration with Beijing, which has become alarmed by the North's recent nuclear and missile tests, and has stepped up enforcement of United Nations sanctions. North Korea staged its most recent nuclear test during the Chinese New Year celebration, which angered Chinese officials.

Fat Cat wrote:^^^korea expert

Terry B. wrote:1. I think that it's more internal posturing than anything aimed at the South or the US. Kim needs to be seen as a strongman ready to lead the charge. A 29 year old wonderkind CEO wouldn't have respect of his employees in a Korean society. Kim needs the support of his generals.

2. The US is been nearly as much of a problem as the DPRK. The last 2 administrations have had no idea how to deal with Asia. For every bit of military showmanship and political bluster that Pyongyang has put forth, the US has returned more than an equal amount. If China wants to be a big boy they should tell both sides to sit down and shut up.

3. Could the DPRK actually hit anything with a missile? The US is shoring up interceptor missiles on the west coast? Please. They have been lucky to get anything off the launch pad in the past 50 years.

4. DPRK has a ton of artillery along the DMZ, far more ground troops than the South and US combined and special forces that have been fairly successful in recent years. They could punch through and overrun the DMZ and hit Seoul if that were what they really wanted to do. Of course there is no way that they could sustain a battle against US air attacks but that is another issue.

TomFurman wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

What would happen?

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

TomFurman wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

What would happen?

I can't find it at the moment, but there was a recent link to a threat analysis of DPRK's ground forces that was pretty interesting.

The key points were:

1. North Korea has a huge army, but lacks the logistical ability to move it rapidly enough to even get to Seoul before a large response could be mounted.

2. Even if they did, the terrain would require it to move down very specific roads that have no cover. Insane turkey shoot.

3. Seoul is in range of their artillery, but the effectiveness once people took cover would be greatly reduced.

4. South Korea has had 50 years to locate and zero North Korean artillery placements. Once Seoul responded, North Korea would lose a few percent of their artillery per hour.

5. A large contingent of children of the Chinese political elite are educated in Seoul. Shell Seoul and you will kill some. This is apparently a big deal.

The conclusion was that with complete surprise, North Korea could inflict serious problems for about 30 minutes. Within 3 days, their artillery would be destroyed, they'd have an army they couldn't maneuver. They are a proliferation problem, but would never start a war unless the plan was national suicide.

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

TomFurman wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

What would happen?

I can't find it at the moment, but there was a recent link to a threat analysis of DPRK's ground forces that was pretty interesting.

The key points were:


5. A large contingent of children of the Chinese political elite are educated in Seoul. Shell Seoul and you will kill some. This is apparently a big deal.

kreator wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

TomFurman wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

What would happen?

I can't find it at the moment, but there was a recent link to a threat analysis of DPRK's ground forces that was pretty interesting.

The key points were:


5. A large contingent of children of the Chinese political elite are educated in Seoul. Shell Seoul and you will kill some. This is apparently a big deal.

That's something interesting I didn't know. Why would they send their kids there?

baffled wrote:

kreator wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

TomFurman wrote:

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

protobuilder wrote:They lack the resources to do anything except invade South Korea and shoot some missiles into South Korea and Japan. Their long-range capabilities consist primarily of failed test launches and missile mockups that fool nobody.

They can't invade the south.

What would happen?

I can't find it at the moment, but there was a recent link to a threat analysis of DPRK's ground forces that was pretty interesting.

The key points were:


5. A large contingent of children of the Chinese political elite are educated in Seoul. Shell Seoul and you will kill some. This is apparently a big deal.

That's something interesting I didn't know. Why would they send their kids there?

China and South Korea have pretty decent relations as far as I can tell, but I admittedly don't pay enough attention to the region to give much background beyond what I've read.

Seoul has a shit load of universities and specialty schools at the high school level, I think. Why Chinese political elite may send their kids there... maybe Terry can explain. Seriously.