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Here is how Trump should respond: Take out the test site from which the North Koreans launched the missile toward Japan — just like he struck the military base in Syria from which the Assad regime had launched a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.
Then, as I recently suggested in the Washington Post, Trump should declare North Korea a ballistic missile “no-fly zone” and a nuclear weapons “no-test zone.” He should warn the North Koreans that any further attempts to launch a ballistic missile will be met with a targeted military strike either taking out the missile on the launch pad or blowing it up in the air using missile defense technology. And any further attempt to test a nuclear weapon will be met with a targeted strike taking out the test site and other related nuclear facilities.
So long as North Korea does not retaliate, Trump should assure Pyongyang that he will take no further military action against the regime. However, if North Korea does retaliate, then the United States reserves the right to, as Trump put it to the UN General Assembly, “totally destroy North Korea.”
The bottom line is that there is no negotiating with North Korea. There is no diplomatic solution that is possible with Kim Jong Un in office. And so long as Pyongyang can launch missiles and test nuclear devices with impunity, they hold the initiative and are running the show on the Korean Peninsula. Trump should take control of the situation away from Pyongyang by unilaterally ending their nuclear and ballistic missile testing program.
originally posted by: JBurns
What other alternative do you see coming from this?
So long as North Korea does not retaliate
originally posted by: Tempter
Either we are serious about stopping this guy from launching nuclear missiles or we're really not.
originally posted by: intrptr
originally posted by: Tempter
Either we are serious about stopping this guy from launching nuclear missiles or we're really not.
Korea hasn't launched any nuclear missiles.
On the other hand the uS has THADD ballistic missile installations on the Peninsula, carrier groups, bombers and troops running 'exercises' threatening them every day.
Besides, it isn't about Korea, its about containment and isolation of China.
If you think about it, it takes a very long time to make these missiles
originally posted by: JBurns
a reply to: whywhynot
That is true. However, some of the ballistic missile defense technologies have shown a very promising intercept rate. Much higher than GMD.
Since we have so many assets in that region, it is also entirely possible a missile could be taken out on the launch pad. This would be optimal.
BMD has a much higher probability of success when it only has to counter a handful of missiles. Allowing them to build a stockpile of missiles/warheads is only going to drastically decrease the effectiveness of our missile defense positions.
I have no doubt that we will continue to expand our global ballistic missile defense and theater defense technologies, but they are quickly overwhelmed by numerous missiles. Penetration aids further reduce its effectiveness, and it is a situation we don't want to see ourselves in.
If I'm not mistaken, don't we already have 3 carrier strike groups in the region as well? No doubt numerous SSBNs as well.
You also do not take US cyber/EW capability into account. What makes you think any of their command/control/communication/technology assets will be working? Look at air power, which US is the undisputed superior force. Navy as well. Most of NK's ships are limited in range, and our ships can sit several times that range away from them and still sink them. I don't think the US gets enough credit, as looking at the defense budget alone will tell you that we have some pretty impressive capabilities.
I once read our military could sustain 3 major simultaneous conventional conflicts. Anyone else read this?
originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: musicismagic
If you think about it, it takes a very long time to make these missiles
Not really. The biggest obstacle NK has always faced in missile development and production has been the "human resources" side of things, as in developing technology natively. They got around that by forging agreements with the Soviets and Chinese to get technology and allow NK "rocketeers" to work with those countries. To be frank, NK has been balls deep in the Scud program ever since they got it from the Soviets, which was decades ago.
Their production capabilities may not be the same as China, the US, and Russia, but they can produce plenty to cause serious headaches for everybody, especially their neighbors. And they've been doing so for many years.
originally posted by: musicismagic
originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: musicismagic
If you think about it, it takes a very long time to make these missiles
Not really. The biggest obstacle NK has always faced in missile development and production has been the "human resources" side of things, as in developing technology natively. They got around that by forging agreements with the Soviets and Chinese to get technology and allow NK "rocketeers" to work with those countries. To be frank, NK has been balls deep in the Scud program ever since they got it from the Soviets, which was decades ago.
Their production capabilities may not be the same as China, the US, and Russia, but they can produce plenty to cause serious headaches for everybody, especially their neighbors. And they've been doing so for many years.
True, but who supplies them with the fuel to fuel these rockets? The US govt?
Remember there were over 200 Americans living in NK working to help stop diseases.
originally posted by: Shamrock6
originally posted by: musicismagic
originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: musicismagic
If you think about it, it takes a very long time to make these missiles
Not really. The biggest obstacle NK has always faced in missile development and production has been the "human resources" side of things, as in developing technology natively. They got around that by forging agreements with the Soviets and Chinese to get technology and allow NK "rocketeers" to work with those countries. To be frank, NK has been balls deep in the Scud program ever since they got it from the Soviets, which was decades ago.
Their production capabilities may not be the same as China, the US, and Russia, but they can produce plenty to cause serious headaches for everybody, especially their neighbors. And they've been doing so for many years.
True, but who supplies them with the fuel to fuel these rockets? The US govt?
Remember there were over 200 Americans living in NK working to help stop diseases.
Obviously, because the US is the only one with the capability to produce the fuel they use.
/s