The North Korea Problem

[MDlaxfan76]

NK is not an expansionist terrorist state, seeking to dominate an entire region, which provides a resource critical to the global economy.

NK is only a threat to SK, which should be able to defend itself, with the US as an ally.

Maybe you forget about Japan?
I'm sure that's an inadvertent miss.

But your point is reasonably well taken as to "expansionist", especially as compared to Iran's posture which I assume was your intent. That said, NK is highly problematic in the spread of nuclear and ballistic technology to non-state as well as rogue state actors. Serious stuff.

Which doesn't mean warfare is the answer.

So NK is a threat to invade or destabilize Japan, which is unable to defend itself ? Like Iran is to it's neighbors ?

You don't want a substantive discussion. You just want an argument.

oops, I assumed by "a threat" you meant those words.
I was giving you the benefit of the doubt that it was just inadvertent.

I guarantee you Japan considers NK a "threat".

And I was not at all arguing the difference you were trying to draw between Iran and NK in the "expansionist" aspect.
It's just that the "expansionist" aspect is not the sole factor determinative of what our foreign policy should be.

At this point in time, NK is not actively attacking Japan, as Iran is attacking SA & Israel, & threatening our forces throughout the region.
NK is not destabilizing an entire region. Iran is.
At this point, NK is a more rational, deter-able adversary, & less a regional threat to out allies, than Iran.
Japan & SK need to resolve their issues with each other.

We don't disagree other than your last line.
Japan is our ally by treaty and by long practice.
They depend heavily on our deterrence umbrella.

I'm not sure why you digging so hard on this.
Both NK and Iran are serious issues. They are not identical.

Apparently you have not been following Japan - SK relations recently.

Absolutely have.
The Japanese are very, very concerned that they can no longer depend on their supposed ally, the USA...under Trump.

Well, the plight of the Kurds will make them feel better.

Exactly.
Interesting that Lindsey Graham just went after Trump for the "lie" and the betrayal.

[old salt]

NK is not an expansionist terrorist state, seeking to dominate an entire region, which provides a resource critical to the global economy.

NK is only a threat to SK, which should be able to defend itself, with the US as an ally.

Maybe you forget about Japan?
I'm sure that's an inadvertent miss.

But your point is reasonably well taken as to "expansionist", especially as compared to Iran's posture which I assume was your intent. That said, NK is highly problematic in the spread of nuclear and ballistic technology to non-state as well as rogue state actors. Serious stuff.

Which doesn't mean warfare is the answer.

So NK is a threat to invade or destabilize Japan, which is unable to defend itself ? Like Iran is to it's neighbors ?

You don't want a substantive discussion. You just want an argument.

oops, I assumed by "a threat" you meant those words.
I was giving you the benefit of the doubt that it was just inadvertent.

I guarantee you Japan considers NK a "threat".

And I was not at all arguing the difference you were trying to draw between Iran and NK in the "expansionist" aspect.
It's just that the "expansionist" aspect is not the sole factor determinative of what our foreign policy should be.

At this point in time, NK is not actively attacking Japan, as Iran is attacking SA & Israel, & threatening our forces throughout the region.
NK is not destabilizing an entire region. Iran is.
At this point, NK is a more rational, deter-able adversary, & less a regional threat to out allies, than Iran.
Japan & SK need to resolve their issues with each other.

We don't disagree other than your last line.
Japan is our ally by treaty and by long practice.
They depend heavily on our deterrence umbrella.

I'm not sure why you digging so hard on this.
Both NK and Iran are serious issues. They are not identical.

Apparently you have not been following Japan - SK relations recently.

Absolutely have.
The Japanese are very, very concerned that they can no longer depend on their supposed ally, the USA...under Trump.

Based on your response, apparently you have not.

I say again -- the Japanese & S Korea need to resolve their issues with each other.

That has nothing to do with depending on the US.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... bout-past/

If you are arguing that SK should stop shipping sensitive tech to NK as part off the thawing in relations under the current SK gov't, ok, I see the connection with NK. But the reason Japan is so spooked is that they recognize the NK threat.

https://theaseanpost.com/article/saving ... lationship

Of course, the current flare-up between SK and Japan is over other issues as well, but these aren't related specifically to NK. https://www.ft.com/content/94ce21dc-c58 ... 6ca66511c9

Sheesh. Everything has to be about Trump. I'm not arguing anything.
I made a straight forward declarative statement :
The Japanese & S Koreans need to resolve their differences.

Do you think that might have an impact on the solidarity of our Pacific alliances ?
You claim Trump is damaging our alliance with Japan -- prove it.
They're buying F-35's & building aircraft carriers to deploy them.
...& so are the S Koreans.

[MDlaxfan76]

NK is not an expansionist terrorist state, seeking to dominate an entire region, which provides a resource critical to the global economy.

NK is only a threat to SK, which should be able to defend itself, with the US as an ally.

Maybe you forget about Japan?
I'm sure that's an inadvertent miss.

But your point is reasonably well taken as to "expansionist", especially as compared to Iran's posture which I assume was your intent. That said, NK is highly problematic in the spread of nuclear and ballistic technology to non-state as well as rogue state actors. Serious stuff.

Which doesn't mean warfare is the answer.

So NK is a threat to invade or destabilize Japan, which is unable to defend itself ? Like Iran is to it's neighbors ?

You don't want a substantive discussion. You just want an argument.

oops, I assumed by "a threat" you meant those words.
I was giving you the benefit of the doubt that it was just inadvertent.

I guarantee you Japan considers NK a "threat".

And I was not at all arguing the difference you were trying to draw between Iran and NK in the "expansionist" aspect.
It's just that the "expansionist" aspect is not the sole factor determinative of what our foreign policy should be.

At this point in time, NK is not actively attacking Japan, as Iran is attacking SA & Israel, & threatening our forces throughout the region.
NK is not destabilizing an entire region. Iran is.
At this point, NK is a more rational, deter-able adversary, & less a regional threat to out allies, than Iran.
Japan & SK need to resolve their issues with each other.

We don't disagree other than your last line.
Japan is our ally by treaty and by long practice.
They depend heavily on our deterrence umbrella.

I'm not sure why you digging so hard on this.
Both NK and Iran are serious issues. They are not identical.

Apparently you have not been following Japan - SK relations recently.

Absolutely have.
The Japanese are very, very concerned that they can no longer depend on their supposed ally, the USA...under Trump.

Based on your response, apparently you have not.

I say again -- the Japanese & S Korea need to resolve their issues with each other.

That has nothing to do with depending on the US.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... bout-past/

If you are arguing that SK should stop shipping sensitive tech to NK as part off the thawing in relations under the current SK gov't, ok, I see the connection with NK. But the reason Japan is so spooked is that they recognize the NK threat.

https://theaseanpost.com/article/saving ... lationship

Of course, the current flare-up between SK and Japan is over other issues as well, but these aren't related specifically to NK. https://www.ft.com/content/94ce21dc-c58 ... 6ca66511c9

Sheesh. Everything has to be about Trump. I'm not arguing anything.
I made a straight forward declarative statement :
The Japanese & S Koreans need to resolve their differences.

Do you think that might have an impact on the solidarity of our Pacific alliances ?
You claim Trump is damaging our alliance with Japan -- prove it.
They're buying F-35's & building aircraft carriers to deploy them.
...& so are the S Koreans.

We were discussing the NK threat, not Japan-USA relations.
You were making some interesting points about NK in contrast with Iran.

I thought you'd inadvertently missed mentioning Japan as threatened by NK; but no, you seem to actually want to argue they aren't threatened?

And are you really serious that our allies, any ally anywhere, are feeling confident that if/when push comes to shove the US has their back in the Trump era? Really?

'cause they're still able to buy weapons from us ??!!

[jhu72]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/no ... spartanntp

[jhu72]

NK no longer interested in summits with US.

[jhu72]

US at logger head with South Korea over troop deployment cost sharing.

So the North is telling us there will be no nuclear deal and the South is telling us they are not willing to cost share as much as we want. Everyone is calling Trump's bluff.

[calourie]

Time to put Dennis Rodman back on the case. Talk about negotiating skills !!!!!!! In addition to a rebounding I.Q. without peer.

[youthathletics]

Nah....King James’ turn.

[Trinity]

Kim fired off some Thanksgiving missiles to celebrate the cancellation of joint US SK exercises.

[jhu72]

So after all Trump's noise - nothing. He claims if Obama were president, we would be engaged in WW3. Trump's good news, the Trumpsuckers still believe him.

[old salt]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

[3rdPersonPlural]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Are we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago ?

[old salt]

^^^ Tulsi's constituents are no longer cowering in the sewers.

Burden sharing negotiations begin with S Korea.
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20191203000110

[3rdPersonPlural]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Are we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago ?

Their child Dictator has worked our child-ish President. Send in the rice and cognac and a new fleet of armored Benz s..

[Typical Lax Dad]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Are we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago ?

Their child Dictator has worked our child-ish President. Send in the rice and cognac and a new fleet of armored Benz s..

It was made clear. "we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago"

[Jim Malone]

WE are even exchanging Christmas presents this year!

It was made clear. "we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago"

[jhu72]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Are we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago ?

Their child Dictator has worked our child-ish President. Send in the rice and cognac and a new fleet of armored Benz s..

It was made clear. "we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago"

Nothing has changed since Orange Duce took office re NK. Just a lot of victory declaring, and oh I forgot, no question they now have demonstrated a tunable bomb.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Lil Kim -- wasting more of his mobile bottle rockets (nobody cares) while his people eat grass.

'...lob one of his MRBMs on a course & trajectory toward Guam or one of our joint bases in Japan & see what comes back in his direction.

Will we ever shoot back? Isn't this what he wants? A provocation?

He wants us to get nervous, then review what a bloodletting a war with these crazies will be, and then decide some freighters full of rice for his people and some reduced regulations so Brandy and luxury cars and goods can come in for his crew will be just fine.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Are we now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago ?

Their child Dictator has worked our child-ish President. Send in the rice and cognac and a new fleet of armored Benz s..

It was made clear. "we are now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago"

Nothing has changed since Orange Duce took office re NK. Just a lot of victory declaring, and oh I forgot, no question they now have demonstrated a tunable bomb.

Naaah we were told “we are now in a better position vis a vis N Korea than we were a year ago.”

[jhu72]

Deciding who's been naughty.