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Originally posted by moonwilson
reply to post by ChrisF231
Agreed. I just did a little research on the North Korean Navy vs. the Japanese Defense Force. If the North Koreans want to have a go at the Japanese, it would be a slaughter. The Japanese have a more than 4:1 tonnage advantage vs. N. Korea. The best offensive ships the North Koreans have are short range missile patrol boats. The Japanese have multiple state-of-the-art Aegis missile destroyers. Those things are no joke- the North Koreans can't touch them.
Assume the entire Japanese naval defense force were on holiday, and decided to give the North Koreans a pass. The entire capacity of the North Korean amphibious fleet:
3000 troops
32 light tanks
150 amphibious hovercraft
To invade a country of 127 million? Good luck with that. They'd never make it past the beach.
Originally posted by Unit541
If there were ever a case to made for foreign occupation, this is it.
NK is just stirring the pot a little more than they did the last time.
Lets say they are not launching a satellite, but are actually developing a long range delivery system for a nuclear payload, as is suspected in many circles.
I ask then, what are they going to do with it? It's not like they'll be able to whip out the worlds largest nuclear arsenal and simultaneously obliterate all of their perceived enemies. I also ask, what are you going to accomplish by developing a missile that can reach Alaska? Do they think they can earn some "street credit" by nuking a few eskimos in Nome and not end up having their country turned into a crater by a far superior force? Do they think we're to preoccupied in Iraq to push a few buttons? They're rattling sabers at forces who could remove all evidence that they ever existed with a single submarine.
No. They're not that stupid. Which is why this situation merits serious consideration, and knee jerk reactions must be avoided at all costs. Even the mighty lion doesn't dare confront the elephant without a devious plan and a lot of backup.
So now, what's the plan, and who's the backup?
Originally posted by NateNute
This is where WW3 would start...millions would die...and the economy gets its much needed jump start.
Also in the area may be the Ohio class SSBN/SSGN NP subs of which 18 were put into service. 4 Ohio class SSGN (guided missile) submarines were modified and carry a maximum of 154 Tomahawk Cruise missiles, each.
If that is not enough, each of the 14 Ohio SSBN's (Tridents) have a compliment of 24 Trident II (D5) SLBMs. Each SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile) warhead consists of 8 MIRV's, with a nominal yield of 50 kilotons, each. JUST ONE Ohio class SLBM sub can independently target 192 different locations, 50 kilotons each. (Hiroshima 12-15 KT).
Originally posted by AlienChaser
I guess the korean war really is the forgotten war. I am reading a lot of posts likening the DPRK to a posturing wimp. Not so. North Korea is not to be taken lightly. When it started, Seoul was overrun in 2 days, and fell within the week.
From June 27th 1950 to July 27th 1953 the United states lost 54,229 troops and South Korea lost 227,800. This are KIAs, not including wounded which was nearly a Million more in the same timeframe. Thats hard and bloody war between some heavy hitters. 3 years, compare that to Iraq.
Now I know that was then and this is now but the DPRK focuses nearly all of it's resources into it's military. That and it's super secrative posture makes it very dangerous, add in an unstable leader and you've got a powderkeg.
I don't think they really mean to start a war but I truly don't think they are afraid to, they are fully capable of handling themselves.
let the powers that be try and handle this
Originally posted by thebluemoon
/quote]
Their cyber-warfare division is also top of the line. They have proven that by messing with the navigation systems around the world. Three or four years ago they messed with the GPS satelites and several aircraft in Europe crashed because their computers had false elevation information.
Originally posted by Echo3Foxtrot
I didn't realise until I got here just how many troops (Navy, Marine, Army and Air Force) that we have here in Japan. I would really hope that if Japan and N Korea go to war we would stay out of it, but the likelyhood of that is pretty slim.
I guess the korean war really is the forgotten war. I am reading a lot of posts likening the DPRK to a posturing wimp. Not so. North Korea is not to be taken lightly. When it started, Seoul was overrun in 2 days, and fell within the week.
Originally posted by larphillips
The North Koreans have proven time and time again that they aren't a legitimate threat. Each and every time they've really rattled the sabre, it has been either to gain access to financial or material aid, keep their nation on the world radar, or to showcase a new weapons system that they intend to sell. The true weapons demonstrations are like a big, giant commercial for their wares open to any and all buyers. Kim Jong Il doesn't want war... he wants cash, stuff, and to be taken seriously, all while continuing to run the show the way he wants to. Japan's reaction only gives him what he truly desires. You can't ignore him, or he actually may become dangerous... if only in a child's temper tantrum kind of way; but you also can't feed the beast to this degree either.