Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rteacher]

DPRK threatens to launch pre-emptive strike against U.S.
Posted: 2009/06/16
From: MNN



`Under the present situation where the Korean People`s Army (KPA) is technically at war with the U.S. imperialists, and as the Armistice Agreement has lost its legal binding force, the KPA will promptly exercise the right to a pre-emptive strike to beat back the enemies` slightest provocation,` said Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the DPRK People`s Armed Forces.


PYONGYANG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has warned it would launch a pre-emptive attack against the United States.

Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the DPRK People's Armed Forces, made the remark at a mass rally that attracted some 10,000 people to denounce a newly endorsed U.N. Security Council Resolution, the official KCNA news agency said Monday.

"Under the present situation where the Korean People's Army (KPA) is technically at war with the U.S. imperialists, and as the Armistice Agreement has lost its legal binding force, the KPA will promptly exercise the right to a pre-emptive strike to beat back the enemies' slightest provocation," Pak said.

He threatened to deliver blows to the "vital parts of the U.S." and "wipe out all its imperialist aggressor troops no matter where they are in the world."

Meanwhile, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, told the rally that the U.N. resolution was "another grave provocation."

"This is, in essence, a wicked pressure offensive launched by the U.S. imperialists to disarm the DPRK, strangle its economy and undermine its ideology and system," Kim said.

The DPRK will respond to any attempt to blockade it with "resolute and deadly blows," he said.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously approved wider sanctions against the DPRK over its May 25 nuclear test.

The resolution bans all weapons exports from the DPRK and most arms imports into the country. It authorizes U.N. member states to inspect the DPRK's sea, air and land cargoes, requiring them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions. #
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=620729

Meanwhile ... U.S. Navy tracks North Korean ship
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090618/ts_nm/us_korea_north_13

I'm no expert at political analysis, but I think that we've entered into a period of heightened risk - at least through mid-July - unless there's a significant diplomatic breakthrough. Everyone in South Korea - and Japan - should at least pay attention to what's happening (with the usual grain of salt perhaps in regard to NK's over-the-top threats) and westerners should be registered with their embassies to get text messages on their cell phones along with email alerts.

[Rteacher]

Although a number of posters here have expressed the idea that North Korean forces could effectively be defeated before wreaking havoc in the South, the Yahoo News article - citing international experts - gives the following assessment:

...Many weapons experts believe the North is years away from being able to miniaturize a nuclear weapon to mount on a warhead and needs several more nuclear tests to develop one.

North Korea has several thousand tonnes of chemical weapons it can mount on missiles that could be used in a rapid strike against the South, according to a report released on Thursday by the International Crisis Group.

The report from the prestigious nongovernmental organization said the consensus view is the North's army possess about 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of chemical weapons that include mustard gas, sarin and other deadly nerve agents.

"If there is an escalation of conflict and if military hostilities break out, there is a risk that they could be used. In conventional terms, North Korea is weak and they feel they might have to resort to using those," said Daniel Pinkston, the ICG's representative on Seoul.

The North has been working on chemical weapons for decades and can deliver them through long-range artillery trained on the Seoul area -- home to about half of South Korea's 49 million people -- and via missiles that could hit all of the country.

"The stockpile does not appear to be increasing but is already sufficient to inflict massive civilian casualties on South Korea," the ICG report said...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090618/ts_nm/us_korea_north_13

[bluelake]

I wouldn't sweat it. NK has been saying the same bellicose things for decades. Anyone who was here in the early 90s remembers the famous "Sea of Fire" talk by a NK official. Most of what they say is for their own domestic consumption. They know that, although some attack on someone somewhere would cause destruction, they would soon cease to exist.

A bigger concern is nuclear proliferation. I am much more concerned with NK selling a nuke to another party that would have no compunction in using it.

[saw6436]

I second bluelake.

[harlowethrombey]

[Ukon]

Knowing north korea, any nuke they sell or weapons they sell will likely be duds....North Korea cuts every corner on cutting corners and has even worse quality control than China.


It's not like you can get refunds on Nukes and artillery rounds...imagine the return shipping costs!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Wayland]

US citizens seem to be making more of this than south korean ones

[Zantetsuken]

Kim Jong Il is a rapper? Most famous for this particular tune:
My name's Kim Jong! The US is Wrong!

Continue foreign aid, or taste my dong!

Gots mad flo, when I eats my foe!

Capitalist pigs are what I overthrow!

Your ass I'll roast, the US is toast,

TAEPO-Dong-2 CAN REACH THE WEST COAST!
More like Kim Jong-ill. Amirite

[Tundra_Creature]

Well, I really do hope nothing goes down over there in Korea. I would like to come over, but nuclear death isn't what I'd like to deal with.

Though it hasn't really been here in the news lately (Canada). They have little blips of it, but it just seems to be repeating the stuff they mentioned a few weeks ago.