North Korea firing missiles into the sea...

[fastpitch17]

Nuclear bomb? Faster then if Krakatoa went off with about the same results. I doubt they even put maps in front of trump to point at knowing his ability to recognize anything.

 

[Davita]

News is the N. Koreans have released the young American who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for taking a propaganda poster from a hotel as memorabilia. It appears he has been in a coma for over a year and the Koreans did not allowed any visitation by anyone.
I'm guessing Trump, or Rodman, or both, will be claiming success.
IMO they should have given Dennis a suicide vest.....

 

[fastpitch17]

Probably Trump because evidently, there was a US representative sent there to try and get this guy released. Of course, it was probably done without Trump's knowlege. The guys family just learned a week ago the health condition he was in. Was given a sleeping pill after an interrogation and never woke up. That was March of 2016.

Rodman arrived just after the guys release so we will have to wait and see what he claims. Hasn't claimed any positives with any of his previous visits but he is a Trump buddy from Trump's Apprentice show. He was fired on that because he couldn't spell Trump's wife name.

 

[Anglian]

Well Mr Pudgy is still at it and China doesn't seem too bothered, but I really laughed this morning at the North Korean TV news announcer, is that Mr Pudgys mum, looks as though she is about to have an orgasim minute, it really is a strange country

 

[Davita]

I would have thought the launch of this latest ICBM would have presented a great opportunity to test the Thaad defence system and blow the missile up as soon launched.
However, I read the Thaad only deploys to intercept missiles in their final phase and within a range of 200 Kms....so probably not very effective as the ICBM flew 1000kms.

 

[Anglian]

200kms still seems a bit close for comfort

 

[El_Goretto]

I would have thought the launch of this latest ICBM would have presented a great opportunity to test the Thaad defence system and blow the missile up as soon launched.
However, I read the Thaad only deploys to intercept missiles in their final phase and within a range of 200 Kms....so probably not very effective as the ICBM flew 1000kms.

The missile also needs to be pointed at South Korea whereas that missile was heading East towards Japan.

Regardless, shooting an "ICBM" is one thing, controlling it to hit the target, miniaturizing a nuclear warhead that can survive re-entry and controlling its detonation is another thing all together.

But it does seem however that NK's progress is faster than anticipated. Is the threat real or are we going to have another scandal like the WMD in Iraq as an excuse for war?

 

[Anglian]

It is a strange situation, Russia and China know Mr Pudgy is a nutter, who really you wouldn't let him be in charge of a bike let alone a country, they do nothing, where he is continuously prodding and poking America, South Korea and Japan into doing some rash, if they do the old proverbial will hit the fan and we will all be covered, a most alarming situation to be in

 

[fastpitch17]

China is en-massing troops along the N. Korean border. Is it to make a move on N. Korea or to keep refugees out if someone does happen to attack N. Korea? Perhaps, if someone attacks, China will make a move along the border and into N. Korea so when the dust settles they can control it.

 

[El_Goretto]

China is en-massing troops along the N. Korean border. Is it to make a move on N. Korea or to keep refugees out if someone does happen to attack N. Korea? Perhaps, if someone attacks, China will make a move along the border and into N. Korea so when the dust settles they can control it.

One way or another, they'd have to deal with a massive refugee crisis, hence why it's been dragging for so long. But do they really have a claim on NK if they chose to invade? I'm not sure if SK, US and Japan would allow this. But it would make more sense for them to move the border with a western aligned country as far as possible from mainland China.

 

[Bad_azz]

It is a strange situation, Russia and China know Mr Pudgy is a nutter, who really you wouldn't let him be in charge of a bike let alone a country, they do nothing, where he is continuously prodding and poking America, South Korea and Japan into doing some rash, if they do the old proverbial will hit the fan and we will all be covered, a most alarming situation to be in

Its basic attention seeking behaviour. He probably can't sleep at night because the big countries don't take him altogether seriously- think about how much a legend in his own lifetime he is (to himself) Yet there goes China & US & Russia who just see him as some delinquent mosquito. He is pushing them, so lets see if he gets splatted before he spreads the metaphorical malaria.
Seriously, sitting back & watching the world politics is much like watching kids in a school playground.

 

[Bad_azz]

Things are escalating - I just saw this:

"North Korea has fired a missile over northern Japan in a move Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called an "unprecedented" threat to his country."

BBC news site- can't get the link to post :/


http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...-launches-another-missile-this-one-over-japan

 

[Asun]

Everyone should just copy Donald's playbook when dealing with Fatty Kim.

Before:
NK: Look at my new nuke! Hear me roar!
Intl communities: Calm down, let's talk this over!
*NK gets some concession with agreement to stop nuclear testing. NK goes on merrily to disregard the agreement*
Intl communities: That's called "strategic patience".

Now:
NK: Look at my new nuke! I'll nuke Guam!
Trump: You want it?! Bring it fat boy!
Intl communities & media: *gasp* we're all gonna die!
NK: What? You can't talk to us like that! This is off-script... Let's forget we mentioned about Guam.
Trump: Good boy!
Intl community & media: .......?????

 

[fastpitch17]

You actually think Trump stopped kim? No, Trump played right into his hands. Kim knew Trump would rattle the sabers. History had already taught everyone that Kim threats were always empty. Now, Kim gets to show the world he ain't fraid of no Trump. Trump was played the fool by a deranged mad man in the small nation of N. Korea. What does that tell you about Trump? Kim isn't looking for a war. He likes his position. He also knows that with the current agreements in place, China backs his ass if someone attacks his nation. All the aces are up Kim's sleeve and Trump holds the jokers. Problem is, jokers are not wild like tge big joker in DC thinks.

 

[Asun]

I don't see the problem. We all know Kim wouldn't dare to nuke anyone because he'll be vapourized the second he does that. So why is everyone trying to appease him everytime he lights up some fireworks? At least Trump called his bluff and Kim duly retreated.

 

[brian@bekasi]

I don't see the problem. We all know Kim wouldn't dare to nuke anyone because he'll be vapourized the second he does that. So why is everyone trying to appease him everytime he lights up some fireworks? At least Trump called his bluff and Kim duly retreated.

How has Trump called Kim's bluff? He fired a missile over Japan yesterday and in statement today Kim said it was part of his Guam strategy.

Personally I think the world is in a very dangerous position with Kim and Trump having their hands on the nuclear button!

 

[fastpitch17]

I don't see the problem. We all know Kim wouldn't dare to nuke anyone because he'll be vapourized the second he does that. So why is everyone trying to appease him everytime he lights up some fireworks? At least Trump called his bluff and Kim duly retreated.

No, Trump didn't call his bluff. He reacted to it. All that came before Trump ignored his bluffs knowing full well it's just talk to pump his chest. Trump was a fool to respond the way he did. All he did was to cause Kim to get louder and to test other nations by firing missiles wherever and not actually hitting anyone. Kim knows as long as he sets the missiles going into the ocean, he wins by ruffling feathers and showing his people he is more powerful that any other nation on earth because look, they are afraid to respond.

 

[kratos]

Check this out
Interesting novel behind the whole circus

https://asia.nikkei.com/Features/Ch...ile-footage-is-a-dagger-to-Xi-s-throat?page=1

August 21, 2017 8:01 am JST
China up close
Pyongyang missile footage is a dagger to Xi's throat
A coup plot, a wiretap and an execution have left blood allies with no trust

KATSUJI NAKAZAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer

State-run KCTV footage taken from a Pukguksong-2 missile launched by North Korea on May 21 shows Chinese territory.

TOKYO -- Once touted as a "friendship cemented in blood," the relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have deteriorated to new lows -- perhaps to a point from which they cannot be salvaged.

The roots of mistrust stem back to the execution of Jang Song Thaek, the uncle of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, in 2013, and the rift has intensified as the relationship was intertwined with the power struggles on the Chinese side.



"Our new ballistic missile can strike anywhere in China." The words of a North Korean top official spoken at a recent internal gathering have traveled across the border and reached the ears of Chinese side.

While the world frets over North Korea's threat to target the waters around the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, home to the Andersen Air Force Base, the fact that the whole of China now falls in Pyongyang's crosshairs is a consequential piece of the puzzle.

Unexpected footage

On May 21, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un witnessed the launch of a Pukguksong-2 solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile from Pukchang in the country's South Pyongan Province.

Related stories

• China up close: Xi loyalists grab the reins of pivotal projects
• China up close: Xi flexes military muscle in quest to follow Mao
• China up close: Most-wanted tycoon keeps Chinese leaders' ears burning
• China up close: Xi tears up succession script with Chongqing shocker
• China up close: Xi Jinping's empty North Korea promise pays off

The newly developed missile was equipped with a small camera to capture in-flight footage. With great fanfare, the state-run Korean Central Television released an extended video of the flight the following day.

Bizarrely, while the missile was heading east towards the Sea of Japan, the footage focused on the west, back towards Chinese territory for an unusually long time, according to military experts.

"You can clearly see the Liaodong Peninsula, where Dalian and Lushun are located, " one expert on Korea explained. "Towards the west of the peninsula is the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea is to the south. The footage would have also shown the capital Beijing if not for thick clouds." Despite the clouds, the message was clear.

"Kim Jong Un is threatening Xi Jinping," the same source said. "The intercontinental ballistic missiles Hwasong-12 and 14 are designed to target the U.S., but the medium-range Pukguksong-2 is meant for ranges that include Beijing." Kim has apparently ordered mass production of the Pukguksongs.

 

[dafluff]

USGS reports a magnitude 6.3 explosion out of North Korea, possibly centered at a location previously used for nuclear testing. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000aert#executive

This is significantly more than previous explosions, and it is now all but confirmed that NK has the technology for Hydrogen bombs. Hydrogen bombs are significantly more powerful than atom bombs. The 6.3 magnitude explosion could correspond to a 1 megaton yield device which is about 66 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb (15 kilotons).

It came only a few hours after Kim Jong Un bragged that his country indeed has such a bomb.

Guardian article
https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...clear-test-south-korea-yohap-kim-jong-un-live

 

[Bad_azz]

there is a bbc link in above- but BBC doesn't seem to show when I post..
In essence it is confirming the NK has had success with the Hbomb
"
North Korea says it has successfully tested a nuclear weapon that could be loaded on to a long-range missile.

The secretive communist state said its sixth nuclear test was a "perfect success", hours after seismologists had detected an earth tremor."


Any mods can find out what I am doing wrong or make the invisible link visible or what ever - would be appreciated.