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ajosshi
Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Location: ajosshi.com
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:43 pm Post subject: S. Korea warns of pre-emptive strike against North . . . |
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S. Korea warns of pre-emptive strike against North over nuclear tests
South Korea will launch a pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang if the antagonist to its north moves to test a nuclear weapon. Seoul said a first strike would be preferable to North Korea getting an atomic weapon, even if it risked open war.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jung Seung-jo said Seoul would take action even if it meant risking war with its northern neighbor. Pyongyang recently announced it will conduct a nuclear bomb test in the near future, raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
General Seung-jo maintained it would be better to risk open war with Pyongyang than have it strike first. Describing a pre-emptive attack as a necessary defense tactic, he went on to say it was paramount that the North does not manage to develop a nuclear weapon.
"If [the North] shows a clear intent to use a nuclear weapon, it is better to get rid of it and go to war, rather than being attacked," said the general, addressing the Joint Chiefs. He added that ''a pre-emptive attack against the North trying to use nuclear weapons does not require consultation with the United States and it is the right of self-defense.�
The DPRK was quick to react to Seoul�s comments, condemning them as �warmongering.�
"They do not know what a real war is like and they would shudder after experiencing our military's spirit to attack in a single breath," wrote North Korean news site Uriminzokkiri, calling the South �vicious traitors of the nation.�
North Korea has stepped up its aggressive rhetoric against Seoul recently, following a UN Security Council resolution in January that approved new sanctions against the rogue state. Pyongyong was enraged by the financial penalties and pledged to take �measures to boost and strengthen our defensive military power including nuclear deterrence.�
Following the announcement of the sanctions North Korea announced it would conduct its third nuclear weapons test, stressing that targeting the US and South Korea was not out of bounds.
"We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are aimed at the United States," North Korea's National Defense Commission says.
Pyongyang successfully conducted a ballistic missile test back in December, demonstrating that it has the potential to launch long-range rockets. North Korea claimed the December launch was to put a satellite into orbit, while it was perceived by the international community as a veiled attempt at testing Pyongyang�s missile capabilities.
International fears center around Pyongyang�s ability to construct a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried on a missile. UN inspectors believe North Korea does not possess the adequate technology, but Seoul maintains it is getting dangerously close.
http://rt.com/news/south-korea-first-strike-806/ |
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falco
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:24 am Post subject: |
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On one level, its about time the SK govt called Pyongyang's bluff. Realistically though, I cant see the South actually carrying out a pre-emptive strike. They've too much to lose if the North were to actually retaliate. |
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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Today's Lesson - Never put weight in what the above poster says. |
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comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:04 am Post subject: |
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falco wrote: |
On one level, its about time the SK govt called Pyongyang's bluff. Realistically though, I cant see the South actually carrying out a pre-emptive strike. They've too much to lose if the North were to actually retaliate. |
I think it's much more a message to China than it is to the North.
"If this keeps up, there'll be a refuge crisis on your border and sooner or later, American troops on your doorstep." |
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falco
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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comm wrote: |
falco wrote: |
On one level, its about time the SK govt called Pyongyang's bluff. Realistically though, I cant see the South actually carrying out a pre-emptive strike. They've too much to lose if the North were to actually retaliate. |
I think it's much more a message to China than it is to the North.
"If this keeps up, there'll be a refuge crisis on your border and sooner or later, American troops on your doorstep." |
Yeah....that too |
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falco
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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NohopeSeriously wrote: |
http://media.daum.net/politics/north/newsview?newsid=20130211212505079
The Russian expert on the Far Eastern affairs Konstantin Asmolov said something like "North Korea will not likely conduct any nuclear tests".
Today's lesson is "always trust the Russians". |
Yes, as everybody knows, the Russian govt is one of the more trustworthy institutions...... |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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NohopeSeriously wrote: |
http://media.daum.net/politics/north/newsview?newsid=20130211212505079
The Russian expert on the Far Eastern affairs Konstantin Asmolov said something like "North Korea will not likely conduct any nuclear tests".
Today's lesson is "always trust the Russians". |
well, according to my cnn update, looks like Mr A. may have been wrong. |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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NohopeSeriously wrote: |
http://media.daum.net/politics/north/newsview?newsid=20130211212505079
The Russian expert on the Far Eastern affairs Konstantin Asmolov said something like "North Korea will not likely conduct any nuclear tests".
Today's lesson is "always trust the Russians". |
North Korea is believed to have conducted a widely anticipated nuclear test Tuesday, following an earthquake that monitoring agencies around the globe said appeared to be unnatural.
The South Korean Defense Ministry, which raised its military alert level after the quake, said it was trying to determine whether it was a test. Nuclear blasts can create tremors but they are distinct from those caused by natural earthquakes.
A world nuclear test monitoring organization detected what it called an "unusual seismic event" in North Korea.
"The event shows clear explosion-like characteristics and its location is roughly congruent with the 2006 and 2009 DPRK nuclear tests," said Tibor T�th, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization. The DPRK refers to North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"If confirmed as a nuclear test, this act would constitute a clear threat to international peace and security, and challenges efforts made to strengthen global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular by ending nuclear testing," T�th said.
Kim Min-seok, a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters that North Korea informed China and the United States of its plans to conduct a nuclear test. It was not clear when Pyongyang told Beijing and Washington.
The U.S. Geological Survey as well as earthquake monitoring stations in South Korea detected an earthquake just north of a site where North Korea conducted its second nuclear test in 2009, according to the government-funded Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources.
"There is a high possibility that North Korea has conducted a nuclear test," said Chi Heoncheol, an earthquake specialist at the institute. Chi said a magnitude 3.9 magnitude earthquake and a magnitude 4.5 earthquake were detected in the North's 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.
South Korean, U.S. and Japanese seismic monitoring agencies put the magnitude of Tuesday's quake at 4.7, 4.9 and 5.2 respectively. |
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falco
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:18 am Post subject: |
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Now watch the UN, South Korea & the US do precisely.........nothing. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:44 am Post subject: |
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falco wrote: |
Now watch the UN, South Korea & the US do precisely.........nothing. |
...what options do they have exactly?
Its a M.A.D. world |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:58 am Post subject: |
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I feel that this is a message to Japan from China that things could get serious. Also this is a good sales gimmick to those who might want a small nuclear weapon. Just come on down to 'CRAZY" Kims we got just the right warhead for you.
Any strike would have to be approved by the U.S. and they would need to talk to russia and China. But there is a strong chance of a surgical strike this time. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:22 am Post subject: |
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nautilus wrote: |
falco wrote: |
Now watch the UN, South Korea & the US do precisely.........nothing. |
...what options do they have exactly?
Its a M.A.D. world |
Why should they even do anything? This is almost a non-event. The status quo is just too damn convenient for everyone involved in the region. Hence, NK is able to do stuff like this.
China wants stability on the peninsula, the US needs an excuse to maintain presence in the region, and SK wants to enjoy its prosperity and economic status.
The collapse of NK would threaten all of these things, so it is for this reason IMO that precisely nothing is done. Apart from the poor unfortunates who have to live their lives as citizens of NK, almost everybody else is perfectly happy with the situation and a little nuclear test is hardly likely to change that. |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: |
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falco wrote: |
Now watch the UN, South Korea & the US do precisely.........nothing. |
I'm pretty sure there's a strongly worded letter being written right now. |
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wallflower
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:09 pm Post subject: How do people think this will affect daily life in S. Korea? |
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Specifically I'm thinking (as can usually happen with tensions between nations) this incident will have a negative effect if any. Can someone who lives there, has lived there, or just knows a lot about life over there speak more about this? I'm curious because I'm considering teaching there. |
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