North Korea declares War on South Korea

[Middle-aged Europe]

While the North would lose, don't most experts anticipate that the North shelling Seoul alone would potentially make it the bloodiest war that the world has seen in decades?

Worse than the Second Congo War? Not likely.

Yes, but they're Africans.

Koreans manufacture cars and other stuff that we use.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The biggest clue for North Korea's intentions is the Kaesong Industrial Complex. They need tha t revenue far too badly to cut themselves off via saber-rattling. Since it was built it's remained open through every escalation.

North Korea is now messing with Kaesong: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/03/world/asia/koreas-tensions/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

This period of saber rattling seems like its gone on longer and gotten more heated then normal; I don't know what could possibly make the regime think this much brinksmanship is necessary.

There's still the worst-case scenario that Kim Jong Un believes in his own propaganda.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Should be we worried!?

According to Wikipedia, North Korea is possibly in possession of one or two ICBMs capable of reaching at least Alaska or Hawaii, but has currently no nuclear warheads to arm those missiles with.

However, the North Koreans could have equipped up to three of their mid-range ballistic missiles (900-1,300 km range) with nuclear warheads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Rocket_Forces_%28North_Korea%29#Active_Missiles

You have to take all of this with a grain of salt, because all information regarding NK's nuclear capabilities is based on speculation and rumours. Take it as a worst-case scenario.

[Middle-aged Europe]

It seems that in order to stay in power, Kim Jong Un has to prove to the generals that he's not afraid of seeking military conflict with the United States. Of course, seeking military conflict with the United States could eventually cause the downfall of him and his regime. He's playing an insane game in which he could lose no matter what he does.

[Middle-aged Europe]

This is one of the dumbest, most cowardly, shameful moves I've seen from our nation's leadership in history...

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/176455606/u-s-delays-missile-test-over-tension-with-north-korea

Delaying a missile test to "cool tensions" is ing moronic... as if the North Koreans are reasonable people who will then reciprocate. This shows weakness I haven't seen our nation display perhaps ever...

Soviets blockade Berlin- we airlift supplies
Soviet missiles in Cuba- we blockade
North Koreans threaten us with nuclear weapons- we cancel missile tests


I was very pleased and proud of our government's response to the crisis until now... Now, I am ashamed

The question is what good conducting the missile test would do.

Airlifting supplies prevented people from running out of food, blockading Cuba stopped the deployment of more Soviet weapons to the island... but what's the benefit what would arise from testing that missile now? It surely wouldn't open up Kaesong again.

[Middle-aged Europe]

So North Korea is pulling its people from Kaesong. The escalation continues.

So, they're practically burning their money now.

[Middle-aged Europe]

At this point, what is Kim hoping to accomplish? It's not like he's going to prove anything else to his people by keeping this up aside from a willingness for self-destruction. Of course, there's the off chance he really is crazy enough to instigate an attack (which either means he wants to go down in a blaze of glory or he actually has support from China, both of which are highly doubtful)

Xi Jinping himself has already publicly voiced his disapproval on what is North Korea is doing right now. Which is also worrying in a way, because it means that Kim doesn't seem to give a f**K about China's wishes.

[Middle-aged Europe]

^^

You drunk?