Will there be a nuclear war between the US and North Korea?

Question

The US invaded Iraq because of the chance of WMDs and to remove an opressing dictator. North Korea has WMDs, an opressing dictator, and has threatened nuclear war on the US if the US attacks them. Following the current US administration 'logic' will the US invade North Korea?

Answer 1

North Korea is just postering, he's trying to sound tough, but really he just sounds stupid. They have one long range missle, untested, that holds one warhead. The US has over 12,000 warheads and something on the order of 7,000 long range (and tested) misslse to deliver them with.

We have enough nuclear firepower to literally wipe southeast asia off the face the planet, and the only response to a nuclear attack is a nuclear attack. Who do you think would win that one?

But yeah, there's nothing in North Korea we want or need.

.."the most well known is never to get in to a land war is asia, only slightly less well known is to never go in against a sicilian when death is on the line!"

Answer 2

The thing that must always be in the back of your mind when thinking analytically about North Korea, is that they are intrinsically linked to China. China bailed them out during the Korean War, not because they wanted to fight the U.S., but because they did not, and still do not want a democratic nation with strong ties to the West on their border.

They use North Korea as a geo-political buffer. North Korea stands not a chance against anyone in the equation. The South Koreans have a significant technological advantage thanks to us. The Chinese have both a technological and numerical advantage against the North Koreans (also thanks to us). Despite KCI's re-unification driven rhetoric, he will not re-unify under democratic rule because he would lose all of his power and political influence.

As such, China and North Korea are forced to play along with each other out of a sort of sick de facto scenario. But getting back to your question, the North Koreans know that a nuclear attack (without Beijing's approval, which will never come) on the South, on Japan, or on the U.S. is suicide.

If China didn't crush them like a bug, the U.S. would. And we wouldn't have to put a single boot on the ground. Missiles and bombs would do it all. Take a look at a map of Korea and you'll see how badly the North is "painted into a corner." China won't turn a cold shoulder to the sheer volume of dollars being pumped into their economy and military budgets. It taks a whole lot of money to maintain the largest standing army in the world.

Bottom line is that it's in China's best interest to keep KCI in line, and they do just that. The U.S. already has North Korea in check, and the Bush administration has already shown that it doesn't mind playing the waiting game with Pyongyang.

Mark my words though: If anything happens militarily with Iran, North Korea will attack the South. This is not a prediction, itwas only narrowly avoided in 1994, and seems to be more possible every day now.

Answer 3

If North Korea launched a nuclear weapon at us, which is unlikely in the extreme (see some excellent discussion above about China and NK), there would be a war. The US and SK would win it. The only "annihilation" suffered would be the annihilation of some of the NK populace - if the US is attacked with nuclear weapons, it will respond in kind. Not too many because of SK, China, and Japan are all close by, but at least one.

Answer 4

There may likely not be any war between US and Korea.

Reason: US will never allow such thing to happen with any country that have chance to lounch a missile directly into the country (US), it rather invade a country that have no way to retaliate when attack was made, like Iraq, Afganistan, etc. I am sure if Saddam was able to lounch a missle directly from Iraq to America, Bush will not invade Iraq. Same with Afganistan.

Answer 5

If North Korea was rich in oil or had bunches of oil fields, G.W. would not hesitate to invade. However, since there is no major oil to be gotten from there, it is a toss up. He might do it, just because he and his bunch of crooks that are in the white house are stupid and may do it just to prove how "important" they are. They think/believe and act that they are above our country's laws and any laws of other countries. Also, if any rebuilding is needed done for invasion damage, they can give it to Halliburton (the no bid deal, where other people who specialize in rebuilding can not bid to do the job, the no bid deal is that it is automatically given to Halliburton) and Cheney used to work for Halliburton and has a financial finger in that company. Also the owners of it are good buddies of Bush and Cheney, so they get more rich by Bush and Cheney giving them the business of rebuilding. Like they are in Iraq and also were given the contract to rebuild in Katrina damage areas.

Answer 6

If one starts, count on China getting into it against the US.

North Korea is their ally, and China supplied North Korea with the nuclear technology to make atomic bombs.

Answer 7

They should be next on the hit parade but Iran is just aching to be first for some reason. No. We won't nuke them unless they use it first and probally they'd nuke S. Korea or Japan. We won't nuke first because China is right next door and they wouldn't think too kindly of the fallout.

Answer 8

US will not dare to do that in the fear of anhilation
so stay happily at home

Answer 9

well lets hope the korean leader( crazy as he is) is not as stupid as the iraqi's were. maybe he should take note of what happened there, when they messed with the big dog.......

Answer 10

Probable, but not likely any time soon.