Are we about to go to war with North Korea?

Question

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060620-123010-4554r.htm

It certainly looks that way to me. They plan to "test fire" an intercontinental ballistic missile into our airspace, which is both a violation on the ban of such missiles and an act of war. We plan to shoot it down and have deployed ships into North Korean waters specifically for this purpose.

What's likely to happen afterward.

Answer 1

It's a good start that you're refering to a Bill Gertz article. He is by far the leading & best national security reporter in the US.

In answer to your question, NO. A couple radar picket destroyers in international waters do not make for a solide sheild. They will monitor any test firing, and if the trajectory shows it headed toward the US, then they may shoot it down (the launch phase when it is moving slowest is the better to shoot it down than when it is falling back from space). I'd think we also have ships around Japan & that Australia & New Zeland may also have naval air defense destroyers in coastal radar picket mode. The response of the free world would be the most extreme of economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, possibly even naval blockade * China shutting it's border with Korea. What should concern you is the last sentence on the article:

" One reason for the concerns about a launch is that North Korea has issued threatening statements through its official press and broadcast organs that it is ready to go to war with states such as Japan and the United States that impose economic sanctions. "

I'd however expect that this is yet another in a long line of tough talk nothing to back it up with from the insane leadership in that country. We'll play chicken with them if they make us though.

Answer 2

I like that last from djack2867 - Lets play chicken with them.

But being realistic, what do we do?

Supposedly, someone correct me if I am wrong, this missile is capable of boosting a satellite into orbit. Now remember that the most efficient method of reaching orbit is a west to east trajectory (which means it is following a rough trajectory toward the US). They launch the missile on such a trajectory. What do we do?

If we destroy the missile on liftoff, when it reaches international waters, we risk an international incident and give the N Koreans more ammunition against those 'imperialistic' pigs of the US.
If we wait until the trajectory is known, and it is not lifting for orbit, can we destroy it on the way down? Could it even have a live warhead of some type? What damage would we incur if it did?
Will it even reach the US?

Back to some of your questions:
If this missile can boost satellites to orbit, can we consider it an act of war if they claim they are only joining other countries in space? That might be a tough sale.
Yes, an ICBM is a violation of their agreement, but a booster rocket for space use may not be construed as such.

Our President may soon face this decision. I do not envy him. What decision would YOU make?

Answer 3

conflict is amazingly unpredictable, so this will be not common. there is South Korea and Japan and that i'm exceedingly particular that that they had help the U.S. the ecu international locations will surely help the U.S. China ought to connect North Korea, seeing how they helped North Korea contained in the Korean conflict, yet maximum in all likelihood they'll connect the U.S. because the nukes ought to threaten them. The U.N. will surely be livid if nukes were used. The U.N. promotes peace and utilising nukes does the different of that. even if, if issues were given very serious (Like North Korea used nukes) The U.N. would probable ought to abdomen the perception of the allies utilising nukes antagonistic to North Korea. even if, that that they had might want to be careful on the position they target the nukes because South Korea nd China are so on the point of North Korea

Answer 4

Well, it looks inevitable we are going to War in the Pacific. There aren't 200 Plus ships cruising in that area to play "Patty Cake". And you know the Ultra Secret new Submarines have been on Patrol for the past few months. I read on today that those Long Range Missles from North Korea have a range of 9300 Miles!!! You usually run Tests to go Live eventually. And I think the U.S. will not allow these Tests to go further. Who cares if they really are testing, the U.S. are sure to go to war with them, and then they'll just point all of their forces in Iraq to go Invade Iran. The World's in Trouble I tell you...

Answer 5

hell...if they due launch it....americans will shoot it down...but it would def be an act of war...and the americans along with UN will def deploy alot more force around north korea for security reasons and to probably go in and disarm them...because from the events that have transpired....there is no way americans will sit back and 'talk' things over with them after the fire that thing

Answer 6

Ask the political party you follow to be more diplomatic and we might find out. No diplomacy means no rational interaction, which results in no understanding ... which leads people like you to ask the same question you ask.

Answer 7

The USA is afraid of N. Korea. look what they did to us 53 years ago. They hurt us big time.

Answer 8

I hope not,,,,have we not learned anything over the last few years,,,,,no one wins a war,,,,,when you look up the meaning of the word war it should read [ we all loose ]

Answer 9

I think there is going to be a lot of tension, but as for war, I don't know.

Answer 10

they have nukes so probably not, BUT... Bush might invade anyway. Iraq supposedly had WofMD. With Bush maybe, after bush... no