North Korea, At It Again...

[BurgundyNGold]

Honestly, I know there are political ramifications and all, but the world community needs to come together to smite NK, if for no other reason than to
set an example. You know that Iran is watching this very, very closely and I wouldn't be surprised if the two countries are trading information.

N. Korea Conducts 'Successful' Underground Nuclear Test

TOKYO, May 25 -- North Korea exploded a nuclear device Monday morning, startling the world with its second underground test in three years and vexing the Obama administration, which has said it wants to solve the nuclear impasse with North Korea.

The test, described as "successful" by the communist state's official Korean Central News Agency, escalates a pattern of provocation that this spring has included a long-range missile launch, detention of two U.S. journalists, kicking out U.N. nuclear inspectors, restarting a plutonium factory and halting six-nation nuclear negotiations.

On Monday afternoon, North Korea fired three surface-to-air missiles into the sea, according to South Korea's defense minister, Lee Sang-hee. It was an apparent effort to chase off U.S. spy planes monitoring the nuclear test site, according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, which quoted an unnamed South Korean official. The missiles, with a range of about 80 miles, were launched from near a coastal base where last month North Korea launched a long-range missile. In Washington, President Obama accused North Korea of "recklessly challenging the international community" with its nuclear and missiles tests. He added in an early morning statement that "the danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community."

...


Source (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/05/25/ST2009052501053.html)

[akhhorus]

North Korea doesn't have much to lose, their economy is a wreck, they're dependent on outside food supplies and they'll rattle this sabre until they get the concessions they want from China and the US. Iran isn't so apocalyptic. And, jmo, but I think Iran is bluffing to some extent to get the West to pay for their nuke power needs.

[shally]

North Korea doesn't have much to lose, their economy is a wreck, they're dependent on outside food supplies and they'll rattle this sabre until they get the concessions they want from China and the US. Iran isn't so apocalyptic. And, jmo, but I think Iran is bluffing to some extent to get the West to pay for their nuke power needs.

you might be right about Iran.. particularly if oil prices remain flat.. we should pay attention to who gets elected and see which way the country is headed

as for Korea, i said before that Clinton couldnt doing anything.. Bush couldnt do anything, and Obama wont be able to do anything

we have very little leverage of any kind on them.. best hope is for the Chinese to lean on them somewhat..

[redskin_rich]

We need to create a serious rift between Iran and N Korea. It would be the easiest thing to do.

Or, we could just use a percentage of our nukes that are aging and will be decommissioned soon, on Iran and erase them, while threatening N Korea with the same. Would anybody really care?

[firehawk157]

Honestly, I know there are political ramifications and all, but the world community needs to come together to smite NK, if for no other reason than to
set an example. You know that Iran is watching this very, very closely and I wouldn't be surprised if the two countries are trading information.



Source (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/05/25/ST2009052501053.html)
Link (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/missile/nd-1.htm)

"The No-dong represent a significant departure from the prior North Korean practice of incremental improvements on the basic single-engine Scud design, and this departure is reflected in the protracted development history of the system, This single-stage missile apparently incorporates a SS-N-4, Isayev S-2.713M engine with a single large combustion chamber. The closely related Iranian Shehab-3 and the Pakistani Ghauri-II do reflect this design."

Just my opinion, but nK is so desperate for anything resembling an ally and more importantly, revenue, they'd sell just about anything to anyone not named the US. Juche be damned.

[firehawk157]

We need to create a serious rift between Iran and N Korea. It would be the easiest thing to do.

Or, we could just use a percentage of our nukes that are aging and will be decommissioned soon, on Iran and erase them, while threatening N Korea with the same. Would anybody really care?
Depending on the prevailing winds, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkimenistan, Turkey or Pakistan (Azerbaijan as well) might have a thing or two to say about that.

[akhhorus]

We need to create a serious rift between Iran and N Korea. It would be the easiest thing to do.

Or, we could just use a percentage of our nukes that are aging and will be decommissioned soon, on Iran and erase them, while threatening N Korea with the same. Would anybody really care?

When they hit back at the main Saudi oil terminal, and between that and Iran being destroyed, gas goes up to around 20 dollars a gallon, yeah I think people would care.

[redskin_rich]

When they hit back at the main Saudi oil terminal, and between that and Iran being destroyed, gas goes up to around 20 dollars a gallon, yeah I think people would care.

The second scenario I suggested, which I presume your reply was to, was half in jest. Even if it became a reality, so many things would be out of whack, gas prices wouldn't be in the top five of biggest concerns of the Earth's population.

[akhhorus]

The second scenario I suggested, which I presume your reply was to, was half in jest. Even if it became a reality, so many things would be out of whack, gas prices wouldn't be in the top five of biggest concerns of the Earth's population.

This is true lol. I don't think there's much back and forth between North Korea and Iran. Certainly not enough to try to work an angle on. Iran would love to have a nuke(mostly to threaten the Saudis), but they also seem wary of going anything close to full speed with the program. North Korea is desperate to get a fully functioning nuke program to threaten China and South Korea with.

[remaxjon]

I will never understand why we get so upset over North Korea. They do not threaten us in any way and if they ever did start to get some power Japan would put an end to it right away. In fact I think we are holding Japan and other Asian nations back from putting North Korea in its place.

[redskin_rich]

I will never understand why we get so upset over North Korea. They do not threaten us in any way and if they ever did start to get some power Japan would put an end to it right away. In fact I think we are holding Japan and other Asian nations back from putting North Korea in its place.

N Korea has over a million soldiers, as well as nukes and increasing rocket ability. What does Japan have, other than the stripped down military we allow them? Sushi, bad movies, worse beer? Sony? Cheaper cars and trucks that are totally worthless once they are paid for?
Who are we holding back and how?

[shally]

I will never understand why we get so upset over North Korea. They do not threaten us in any way and if they ever did start to get some power Japan would put an end to it right away. In fact I think we are holding Japan and other Asian nations back from putting North Korea in its place.

i think they have the capability of nuclear mischief that is beyond belief.. you dont need to have missile capability to make a dirty bomb. load it on a freighter and detonate it in NY harbor... or off the coast of Tel Aviv

[firehawk157]

I will never understand why we get so upset over North Korea. They do not threaten us in any way and if they ever did start to get some power Japan would put an end to it right away. In fact I think we are holding Japan and other Asian nations back from putting North Korea in its place.
South Korea, one of our major allies, would get steamrolled by the North the second we leave the peninsula. Just because they can't strike the homeland, doesn't mean they aren't a threat.

Also Japan isn't going to project any forces anywhere. China will skirt the issue while South Korea gets absolutely slammed to the ground. It will be very messy and very bloody. Like doing surgery with a chainsaw.

[akhhorus]

South Korea, one of our major allies, would get steamrolled by the North the second we leave the peninsula. Just because they can't strike the homeland, doesn't mean they aren't a threat.

Also Japan isn't going to project any forces anywhere. China will skirt the issue while South Korea gets absolutely slammed to the ground. It will be very messy and very bloody. Like doing surgery with a chainsaw.

Japan could defend themselves, barely, but South Korea would be no match for North Korea without our help. And having an unstable regime threatening one of the main arteries of commerce in the world is in the US's interest of stopping.

[firehawk157]

Japan could defend themselves, barely, but South Korea would be no match for North Korea without our help. And having an unstable regime threatening one of the main arteries of commerce in the world is in the US's interest of stopping.
Japan's greatest defense is blue and wet. North Korea's navy has almost zero ability to project power. Japan would be fine, but Japan won't rush to help Korea.

[shally]

Japan's greatest defense is blue and wet. North Korea's navy has almost zero ability to project power. Japan would be fine, but Japan won't rush to help Korea.

again, you dont need much of a navy to carry a small dirty nuke

[akhhorus]

Japan's greatest defense is blue and wet. North Korea's navy has almost zero ability to project power. Japan would be fine, but Japan won't rush to help Korea.

Japan's airforce would struggle badly against North Korea's without our support. Bombing their commercial/industrial centers willy-nilly would be just as devestating as an invasion for Japan frankly.

[firehawk157]

Japan's airforce would struggle badly against North Korea's without our support. Bombing their commercial/industrial centers willy-nilly would be just as devestating as an invasion for Japan frankly.
I highly disagree. Japan has some REAL good stuff. The AEGIS (http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/missile-defense-japan), Patriot PAC-3 (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Japan_completes_missile_defense_system_deployment_ reports_999.html), F-15J (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/f-15j.htm) and an indigenous copy of the F-16 (http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article16.html). North Korea doesn't really have much of a chance against those systems.

[akhhorus]

I highly disagree. Japan has some REAL good stuff. The AEGIS (http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/missile-defense-japan), Patriot PAC-3 (http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Japan_completes_missile_defense_system_deployment_ reports_999.html), F-15J (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/f-15j.htm) and an indigenous copy of the F-16 (http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article16.html). North Korea doesn't really have much of a chance against those systems.

One on one, absolutely. The North Koreans are a generation or two behind. But they have at least 3 times as many planes to throw at the Japanese(probably much more since thats an estimate). First rule of Communist warfare: quantity has a quality of its own. Sooner or later, they'll get through.

[remaxjon]

southeast asia would never allow North Korea to invade south Korea or do anything stupid. They have way to much to lose. We would be much better served trading with North Korea and spreading American ideals that way. The people of North Korea would also be much better served.

There is no reason for us to commit thousands of troops and who knows how many billions of dollars on a problem that can and should be handled by other nations.

[akhhorus]

southeast asia would never allow North Korea to invade south Korea or do anything stupid. They have way to much to lose. We would be much better served trading with North Korea and spreading American ideals that way. The people of North Korea would also be much better served.

There is no reason for us to commit thousands of troops and who knows how many billions of dollars on a problem that can and should be handled by other nations.

Japan, South Korea and China are the only other East Asian nations with a semblance of a military, and China wont fight North Korea to keep them from over-running South Korea. South Korea and Japan can't fight North Korea on their own. Yes, we shouldn't have to commit the troops and money to this situation, but we have good reason to.

[firehawk157]

One on one, absolutely. The North Koreans are a generation or two behind. But they have at least 3 times as many planes to throw at the Japanese(probably much more since thats an estimate). First rule of Communist warfare: quantity has a quality of its own. Sooner or later, they'll get through.
Again, disagree. In the old days (Korean war, Vietnam) before the advent of advanced radar, you'd be right. Right now though, with the systems Japan has, Korea is essentially taking a knife to a gunfight. Blindfolded. Oh yeah, they also start at opposite ends of a field.

[akhhorus]

Again, disagree. In the old days (Korean war, Vietnam) before the advent of advanced radar, you'd be right. Right now though, with the systems Japan has, Korea is essentially taking a knife to a gunfight. Blindfolded. Oh yeah, they also start at opposite ends of a field.

NK does have some advanced fighters. Nearly 80 mig-29s and Su-25s(again, thats just what we know Russia sold to them, figure more). And Japan would have to spread out their forces along a long coastline to protect the entire country. Sooner or later, a NK air attack would get through their defense line(especially if they coordinate with SSM strikes on their air defenses).

Now, this is academic, Japan would have our help, and we would park enough air power in and around Japan to stop this from happening, but 1 on 1, Japan couldn't keep NK air power at bay by themselves.

[BurgundyNGold]

More saber rattling by the North...

North Korea Threatens Attack on South

TOKYO, May 27 -- North Korea vowed Wednesday to attack South Korea if its ships are searched as part a U.S.-led effort to interdict vessels carrying missiles or weapons of mass destruction. It also declared that the truce that ended the Korean War was no longer valid.

"Those who provoke [North Korea] once will not be able to escape its unimaginable and merciless punishment," the North's official news agency said.

The threat brought a strong rebuke in Washington. At a news conference, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed U.S. commitments to the defense of Japan and South Korea and said North Korea's "belligerent" actions will bring consequences, although she did not specify any. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also said that North Korea's action is deepening its isolation and that the administration is looking "to ensure that they're not moving material that could be used to produce a weapon of mass destruction."

...


Source (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052701060.html)

[shally]

More saber rattling by the North...



Source (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052701060.html)

send Hillary directly to them.. she knows how to deal with men behaving badly

[VegasSkinsFan]

send Hillary directly to them.. she knows how to deal with men behaving badly

In your scenario...is Hillary wearing a dirty bomb?? :)

[akhhorus]

In your scenario...is Hillary wearing a dirty bomb?? :)

There's a snuke up her snizz. (http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155539)

[remaxjon]

Japan, South Korea and China are the only other East Asian nations with a semblance of a military, and China wont fight North Korea to keep them from over-running South Korea. South Korea and Japan can't fight North Korea on their own. Yes, we shouldn't have to commit the troops and money to this situation, but we have good reason to.

South Korea and Japan could defeat North Korea on there own. North Korea can't feed its people and doesn't have power in half the country. They are weak and I don't understand why anyone cares what they do. They are no threat to the United States.

[akhhorus]

South Korea and Japan could defeat North Korea on there own. North Korea can't feed its people and doesn't have power in half the country. They are weak and I don't understand why anyone cares what they do. They are no threat to the United States.

You're totally wrong here. North Korea has nearly 9 million people under arms(active and reserve) and between 1700-2000 military aircraft(along with an irregular citizen militia which no one how big it is). South Korea has about 1/3 the number of troops and planes. Japan has maybe 200,000 active duty troops and another million-ish in reserve(and about 500-700 military planes). They are no match for North Korea in a land war, which is why we have a large military presence in South Korea and Japanese territory.

[shally]

In your scenario...is Hillary wearing a dirty bomb?? :)


..depends upon what time of the months it is...OUCH !!!!!!

...ducks and runs for cover

[remaxjon]

You're totally wrong here. North Korea has nearly 9 million people under arms(active and reserve) and between 1700-2000 military aircraft(along with an irregular citizen militia which no one how big it is). South Korea has about 1/3 the number of troops and planes. Japan has maybe 200,000 active duty troops and another million-ish in reserve(and about 500-700 military planes). They are no match for North Korea in a land war, which is why we have a large military presence in South Korea and Japanese territory.

We are just going to disagree. North Korea can't supply electricity to 90% of the country. They don't have the money or the tools to fight a war with anyone.

[akhhorus]

We are just going to disagree. North Korea can't supply electricity to 90% of the country. They don't have the money or the tools to fight a war with anyone.

The reason that their country is so poor is because they pour money into their army and ignore the rest of the state. I'm sorry, but this isn't disagree/agree, you're flat out wrong. If North Korea was absolutely no threat to anyone, South Korea and the US wouldn't bother with all the preparations and money they commit to the defense of South Korea. Either you're totally misinformed or you're making stuff up just to feed your "we should withdraw from the rest of the world" Paulist agenda.

[remaxjon]

The reason that their country is so poor is because they pour money into their army and ignore the rest of the state. I'm sorry, but this isn't disagree/agree, you're flat out wrong. If North Korea was absolutely no threat to anyone, South Korea and the US wouldn't bother with all the preparations and money they commit to the defense of South Korea. Either you're totally misinformed or you're making stuff up just to feed your "we should withdraw from the rest of the world" Paulist agenda.

South Korea spends 5 times the amount of money on its military and Japan spends about 9 times the amount. North Korea can barely feed its citizens let alone fight a war. This fear of North Korea is something I will not understand. I don't have an agenda just an opinion and I think the facts back mine up. You need technology to fight and win a war aganist a developed country and North Korea doesn't have any. It would be a slaughter!

Ron Paul stopped running for President a while ago. I think he will be pushing 80 the next time an election comes around so I don't think he will run and I will not be supporting him. I'll be on the Mark Sanford bandwagon then and you can tell me how terrible he is in 3 years but for now I'm just giving an opinion. If this was a general political thread I would have an agenda that included free markets and free minds but this is a thread about North Korea and I just don't think there is good reason to be there.

[akhhorus]

South Korea spends 5 times the amount of money on its military and Japan spends about 9 times the amount. North Korea can barely feed its citizens let alone fight a war. This fear of North Korea is something I will not understand. I don't have an agenda just an opinion and I think the facts back mine up. You need technology to fight and win a war aganist a developed country and North Korea doesn't have any. It would be a slaughter!


North Korea has one of the biggest militaries in the world and plenty of equipment that is still effective. Over 2000 main battle tanks that can go toe to toe with what we have. And they outnumber South Korea and Japan by a pretty big factor. And the US feels the need to put 500k troops and some of our biggest military facilities within striking distance of North Korea. You have no facts, you're convinced yourself of something that every single analyst of Asian politics and diplo-military affairs totally disagrees with.

Ron Paul stopped running for President a while ago. I think he will be pushing 80 the next time an election comes around so I don't think he will run and I will not be supporting him.

I didn't say that presidential politics had anything to do with this. You've done this song and dance before.

I'll be on the Mark Sanford bandwagon then and you can tell me how terrible he is in 3 years but for now I'm just giving an opinion.

Sanford is an idiot. I've met him personally and he was my governor/congressman for awhile. He's no libertarian, he's pretending to be one now because he has visions of the White House.

If this was a general political thread I would have an agenda that included free markets and free minds but this is a thread about North Korea and I just don't think there is good reason to be there.

Like I said: you've done this song and dance about pulling out of the rest of the world before.

[BurgundyNGold]

We are just going to disagree. North Korea can't supply electricity to 90% of the country. They don't have the money or the tools to fight a war with anyone.
The point is that while NK can't supply electricity to 90% of the country, they *can* supply electricity to 100% of their military industrial complex. They can also find money to feed, house, train and equip their 1M+ man military. They can also find money for Nadong rockets and now multiple stage rockets. And they can also somehow find rather considerable sums of additional money to develop nuclear weapons and to weaponize enough plutonium for an estimated 6-8 weapons.

The fact that the citizenry lives in squalor has nothing to do with the fact that what little resources NK has is and has been funneled to the military for decades. They're dug in and ready for a fight. Short of bombarding the entire country of NK with a sustained EMP, which is science fiction, they can kill millions before anyone with any real military might (US, China or Russia) stops them.

Oh, and China and Russia have demonstrated no interest in stopping NK because having the US deal with them weakens the US, South Korea and Japan (who China doesn't particularly care for anyway) while allowing China and Russia to make economic gains.

[remaxjon]

North Korea has one of the biggest militaries in the world and plenty of equipment that is still effective. Over 2000 main battle tanks that can go toe to toe with what we have. And they outnumber South Korea and Japan by a pretty big factor. And the US feels the need to put 500k troops and some of our biggest military facilities within striking distance of North Korea. You have no facts, you're convinced yourself of something that every single analyst of Asian politics and diplo-military affairs totally disagrees with.



I didn't say that presidential politics had anything to do with this. You've done this song and dance before.



Sanford is an idiot. I've met him personally and he was my governor/congressman for awhile. He's no libertarian, he's pretending to be one now because he has visions of the White House.



Like I said: you've done this song and dance about pulling out of the rest of the world before.

I just gave you some facts that you choose to ignore and then tell me I have an agenda. We disagree you're really really really really really really really really smart and I'm not capable of understanding "Asian politics and diplo-military affairs" as well as you. I had no idea being an expert in the draft and diplo military affairs went so well together.

Sanford must be really stupid getting elected Governor and all. That usually screams idiot. You meeting him really has changed my mind about him. I finally see the light. Besides the fact that has nothing to do with anything and you insist on bringing up ron paul every time I post anything. I like small government, I don't like intervention, and I'm socialy liberal thats what I am. I currently don't have an agenda but that is subject to change. I will let you know.

Like I have said in the past you have to be the most pompus person on the earth. You have an opinon we disagree you call me stupid. I'm not the only one but I guess its hard walking around being so smart and being surronded by so many dumb people. In my opinion South Korea, Japan and a host of other countries would destroy North Korea and it wouldn't be close.

also most people don't disagree with me when I say South Korea could defeat North. They may disagree that we should be there but not who would win in a war. It would be a slaughter

[akhhorus]

I just gave you some facts that you choose to ignore and then tell me I have an agenda. We disagree you're really really really really really really really really smart and I'm not capable of understanding "Asian politics and diplo-military affairs" as well as you. I had no idea being an expert in the draft and diplo military affairs went so well together.

In order:
-You didn't provide any facts but spending amounts. North Korea still has a much bigger military than both combined despite the spending difference. They're a threat whether you want to believe it or not.
-Every single government that touches the Pacific and every single scholar/policy maker thinks North Korea is a military threat. But you think you know better. I had no idea that you were such an expert on North Korea to know more than them.

Sanford must be really stupid getting elected Governor and all. That usually screams idiot.

South Carolina governors aren't known for their intelligence. The governor before him was a moron(Hodges-who we called Governor Gump), so were the two before him(Beasley and Campbell). What I was referring to-which I've mentioned before-was Sanford sounding like an idiot when interviewed(which he does regularly).

You meeting him really has changed my mind about him. I finally see the light. Besides the fact that has nothing to do with anything and you insist on bringing up ron paul every time I post anything.

Like I said: you've brought up this "We should pull out of the world/South Korea" nonsense before in the Paul thread.

I like small government, I don't like intervention, and I'm socialy liberal thats what I am. I currently don't have an agenda but that is subject to change. I will let you know.


Most cult members don't think that they're in a cult.

Like I have said in the past you have to be the most pompus person on the earth. You have an opinon we disagree you call me stupid. I'm not the only one but I guess its hard walking around being so smart and being surronded by so many dumb people. In my opinion South Korea, Japan and a host of other countries would destroy North Korea and it wouldn't be close.


It is truly hilarious that you post(and continue to post) something that contradicts God knows how many experts, government officials and people who study North Korea totally disagree with, yet you're accusing me of being pompous. For everything you accuse me of, you sure sound like you're describing yourself.

also most people don't disagree with me when I say South Korea could defeat North. They may disagree that we should be there but not who would win in a war. It would be a slaughter

Anyone who agrees with you on that is clueless when it comes to the situation in the Korean Peninsula. Absolutely no one believes that South Korea could beat North Korea on their own. No one: not even the South Koreans.

[firehawk157]

South Korea and Japan could defeat North Korea on there own. North Korea can't feed its people and doesn't have power in half the country. They are weak and I don't understand why anyone cares what they do. They are no threat to the United States.
No, they can't. Japan has little to no ability to project forces (they have a decent ability to protect their homeland but they've been defensive minded since WWII) and South Korea would get absolutely steamrolled. China would stay out of it and nobody else in the region (excepting Russia who wouldn't get involved for diplomatic reasons) has a military capable of conducting a proxy war.

Nobody I have ever met has ever put forth the idea that the South would survive an invasion.

[firehawk157]

Here's why a nuclear North Korea is a threat to us. Ballistic missile capabilities of the Chonger. (http://www.militarypictures.info/d/1184-2/north_korea.jpg)

[RedskinsReaper21]

i think they have the capability of nuclear mischief that is beyond belief.. you dont need to have missile capability to make a dirty bomb. load it on a freighter and detonate it in NY harbor... or off the coast of Tel Aviv

Why does it always have to involve Tel Aviv? I guess I'm at the bullseye of the world...LOL

By the way, there is a very stong link between Iranian, Syrian, and North Korean nuclear and missile programs. Iran just test fired the most accurate missile they ever have due to North Korean technology. The plutonium reactor that Israel allegedly destroyed in Syria last year was modeled after the NK one - Korean engineers are said to have been killed in the strike.

Also, dont underestimate the South Koreans. US Marines I know who fought in Vietnam have tons of respect for their South Korean counterparts (they fought side by side). They will tell you themselves 'dont mess with the ROKs'....absolutely ruthless and efficient. It's not just the quantity of soldiers/equipment but also having the fighting spirit (for lack of a better term) and the knowledge and skillset to use said equipment to its maximum effect...

[shally]

Why does it always have to involve Tel Aviv? I guess I'm at the bullseye of the world...LOL

By the way, there is a very stong link between Iranian, Syrian, and North Korean nuclear and missile programs. Iran just test fired the most accurate missile they ever have due to North Korean technology. The plutonium reactor that Israel allegedly destroyed in Syria last year was modeled after the NK one - Korean engineers are said to have been killed in the strike.

Also, dont underestimate the South Koreans. US Marines I know who fought in Vietnam have tons of respect for their South Korean counterparts (they fought side by side). They will tell you themselves 'dont mess with the ROKs'....absolutely ruthless and efficient. It's not just the quantity of soldiers/equipment but also having the fighting spirit (for lack of a better term) and the knowledge and skillset to use said equipment to its maximum effect...

no offense meant.. i am Jewish.. could have just as easily said Haifa...

the Koreans on both sides are tough fighters.. it is just that the NK's have a much larger standing army

[BurgundyNGold]

Here's why a nuclear North Korea is a threat to us. Ballistic missile capabilities of the Chonger. (http://www.militarypictures.info/d/1184-2/north_korea.jpg)
That link doesn't seem to work. So, for my own amusement, I am going to assume that you meant this:

http://www.heartlessdoll.com/long.jpg