Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

What if North Korea attacked Japan?
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
everything-is-everything



Joined: 06 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:33 pm    Post subject: What if North Korea attacked Japan? Reply with quote

I was thinking about this scenario the other day and it resulted in more questions than answers.

- Would the Japanese immediately respond?

- Would the Americans respond?

- What about the South Koreans?

I mean considering the sour relations between the Japanese and South Koreans I don't really see the South supporting a retaliation nor would their government allow the Americans to retaliate from South Korean territory.

In fact, I believe many in South Korea would, at least not publicly, applaud the action against Japan.

Furthermore, how would the Japanese respond? They've essentially been neutered since their defeat in WW2. I'm also not sure what kind of response they can muster up.


Basically, if North Korea really wanted to start some s$it this would be an interesting move. Primarily because the response wouldn't be so clear cut and would create divisiveness among the South Koreans, Japanese and Americans.


So what do you posters here think would happen is the North Koreans sent a missile into a Japanese city?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
fermentation



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are greatly underestimating Japanese military capabilities. The japanese have a much more advanced air force and navy than South Korea. They are more than capable of retaliating. Despite however Koreans think about the japanese, they are technically our allies. Conservatives in particular are more willing to be military partners with them. Regardless I'm sure the Japanese would respond with or without ROK and American support.

That being said, it all depends what an "attack" here means. A long range missile? A single airstrike? An all out invasion?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 3:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

North Korea not completely closing Kaesong (and taking nearly a month to actually try to give the impression that they will) is meant to be understood as a sign that they don't want to pick a fight with South Korea.

So, stop worrying.

Oh, and don't freak out if they conduct a missile test in the middle of next week.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Swampfox10mm



Joined: 24 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Korean coworkers told me they are more scared of Japan than North Korea. Odd, eh?

If NK hit Japan, it would likely cause a push for more armed forces in Japan, which would unnerve basically everyone.... especially China.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Swampfox10mm



Joined: 24 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will add that many now expect North Korea to shoot another rocker over Japan and toward the USA. In fact, the Obama admin. yesterday laid the groundwork of expectation for that, hoping everyone is calm when it happens.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Swampfox10mm wrote:
My Korean coworkers told me they are more scared of Japan than North Korea. Odd, eh?


Not necessarily. If they mean that North Korea's military is a farce, then yes they are right. If they mean that Japan is a threat, then I bet they were in middle school/high school during the Roh administration.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
young_clinton



Joined: 09 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:40 pm    Post subject: Re: What if North Korea attacked Japan? Reply with quote

Lots of luck to North Korea if they ever do. The Japanese can be just like the North Koreans in viciousness, only they're not little midgets from years and years of starving and can actually produce weapons, even atomic weapons that are useful and use them.

Japan could be a potential threat to South Korea if another war breaks out, because of all the years of animosity that South Korea will not let go of.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
everything-is-everything



Joined: 06 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

12ax7 wrote:
North Korea not completely closing Kaesong (and taking nearly a month to actually try to give the impression that they will) is meant to be understood as a sign that they don't want to pick a fight with South Korea.

So, stop worrying.

Oh, and don't freak out if they conduct a missile test in the middle of next week.


Did you even read my original post?

I'm not talking about an attack on South Korea, but instead an attack on Japan.

It would be madness, but brilliant at the same time.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
everything-is-everything



Joined: 06 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:29 pm    Post subject: Re: What if North Korea attacked Japan? Reply with quote

young_clinton wrote:
Lots of luck to North Korea if they ever do. The Japanese can be just like the North Koreans in viciousness, only they're not little midgets from years and years of starving and can actually produce weapons, even atomic weapons that are useful and use them.

Japan could be a potential threat to South Korea if another war breaks out, because of all the years of animosity that South Korea will not let go of.



When was the last time Japan did anything of military significance?

For you and the other poster claiming that Japan would respond in kind, I think you're wrong.

Japan wouldn't have much support for retaliation in the region if the North Koreans sent a missile into a Japanese city.

The Chinese certainly wouldn't and neither would the South Koreans. The Americans probably would, but would be left between a rock and a hard place.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mithridates



Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:59 pm    Post subject: Re: What if North Korea attacked Japan? Reply with quote

everything-is-everything wrote:
young_clinton wrote:
Lots of luck to North Korea if they ever do. The Japanese can be just like the North Koreans in viciousness, only they're not little midgets from years and years of starving and can actually produce weapons, even atomic weapons that are useful and use them.

Japan could be a potential threat to South Korea if another war breaks out, because of all the years of animosity that South Korea will not let go of.



When was the last time Japan did anything of military significance?

For you and the other poster claiming that Japan would respond in kind, I think you're wrong.

Japan wouldn't have much support for retaliation in the region if the North Koreans sent a missile into a Japanese city.

The Chinese certainly wouldn't and neither would the South Koreans. The Americans probably would, but would be left between a rock and a hard place.


Japan's military budget is about the same as France and the UK, the US would back them, China would never support NK if they up and launched a missile into a Japanese city and NK knows it. No rock and a hard place in that scenario.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
ricochet



Joined: 04 Sep 2011
Location: carpetbagging...

PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeju-do has more to worry about than Japan. Shocked
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
fermentation



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The japanese are certainly more than capable of retaliating, and have plans to do so should they be attacked. The Japanese haven't done any significant militarily since WWII, but they still have a much more advanced airforce and navy than North and South Korea.

I think if the North actually attacks Japan, or any other country, international support would not be on their side.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
silkhighway



Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On these hypotheticals, what if N. Korea attacked attacked an American ship in a manner similar to the Cheonan incident? How would America respond? Could N. Korea carry out the attack in such a way that divides South Koreans and Americans and even going a step further, enables the radical left wing in South Korea to help defend N. Korea if it escalated to a full-out war scenario? In other words, creating a true civil war on the peninsula?

Mr. Kim, if you are following Dave's ESL, please don't get any ideas.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
everything-is-everything



Joined: 06 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

silkhighway wrote:
On these hypotheticals, what if N. Korea attacked attacked an American ship in a manner similar to the Cheonan incident? How would America respond? Could N. Korea carry out the attack in such a way that divides South Koreans and Americans and even going a step further, enables the radical left wing in South Korea to help defend N. Korea if it escalated to a full-out war scenario? In other words, creating a true civil war on the peninsula?

Mr. Kim, if you are following Dave's ESL, please don't get any ideas.



Good post. I was hoping that this thread would become more of a war games scenario.


I still find the idea of the North Koreans launching a tactical strike (non-nuclear) across the Sea of Japan into a Japanese city like Nagano or Sapporo interesting in terms of what the response would be.


And I still don't buy the idea of a strong and immediate Japanese response that several of the posters claim would occur.

The idea that the Japanese are strong militarily is quit odd considering that they have done nothing of significance since the late 1940s. The nation is still divided politically and the pacifist tone has left the Japanese people neutered.

Sure a tactical strike on a Japanese city would increase the rise in nationalism, but I completely disagree with the notion that the government would respond immediately.



Furthermore, the most compelling (not in a good way) result of a strike on a Japanese city would be the response in South Korea and China.

Again, like I mentioned before, I believe the majority of Chinese and South Koreans would actually support it and secretly cheer the North Koreans for enacting revenge on the Japanese.

This would cause a severe rift among the nations in north east Asia, benefiting the North Koreans.


In terms of the American response: Would they immediately act to defend the Japanese, or would they sit on the fence as not to anger the South Koreans and Chinese by causing a possible collapse of the North Korean regime?


I would like to hear other posters scenarios for what the response would be if the North Koreans sent a missile into a Japanese city?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
FMPJ



Joined: 03 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.yhchang.com/OPERATION_NUKOREA.html

(enable sound)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International