Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Space Bar]

Between this and the false flag that was the sinking of the Cheonan, I guess it is only matter of time. But I thought the US was prepared to fight only two wars simultaneously.

Gates: North Korea will pose direct threat to US

By ANNE GEARAN, AP National Security Writer Anne Gearan, Ap National Security Writer � 1 hr 5 mins ago

BEIJING � North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles poses a direct threat to the United States, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday, a blunt assessment of the risk posed by an erratic dictatorship that considers the U.S. its foremost enemy.

North Korea will have a limited ability to deliver a weapon to U.S. shores within five years using intercontinental ballistic missiles, Gates predicted. North Korea has threatened to test such missiles, and has already conducted underground nuclear tests that prove it has manufactured at least rudimentary nuclear weapons.

"With the North Koreans' continuing development of nuclear weapons and their development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, North Korea is becoming a direct threat to the United States, and we have to take that into account," Gates said.

The risk of war on the Korean Peninsula is also rising because South Koreans are fed up with provocation and harassment from the North, Gates said.

"We consider this a situation of real concern and we think there is some urgency to proceeding down the track of negotiations and engagement," he said.

North Korea is accused of sinking a South Korean Navy ship last spring, killing 46 sailors, and it fired artillery at a disputed island in November, killing four South Koreans.

The South's "tolerance for not responding" is nearly gone, Gates told reporters in China, which is North Korea's only ally.

"Clearly, if there is another provocation there will be pressure on the ... South Korean government to react," Gates said.

[Captain Corea]

[Kuros]

[geldedgoat]

[BoholDiver]

What exactly are you saying? That NK did it or didn't do it?

I am unfamiliar with the expression 'false flag'.

[northway]

[Steelrails]

Ya'll do realize that when they talk about Nork missiles hitting U.S. shores, they mean the Aleutian Islands, maybe Hawaii, right?

This is Gates warming up for this year's round of budget battles.

[rollo]

Yep it is procurement time and next they will be saying that Pago Pago represents a clear and present danger. anything to get the next generation of photon torpedoes.

[BoholDiver]

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

Yes, I agree. The OP is out to lunch. They so did it.

[Space Bar]

[northway]

Space Bar, in your estimation, isn't every flag false?

[Space Bar]

[BoholDiver]

Are you counting the North's denial as even a shred of proof? It destroys your credibility.

Remember this, NK also denied digging tunnels into SK and even blamed the South. They are not known for taking responsibility or honesty.

[Space Bar]

[Jeonmunka]