Why haven't we retaliated against North Korea?

Question

We had "no doubt that Saddaam Hussein had started his nuclear program," even though he was not posing an immediate threat to us and that intelligence was later proven to be faulty. We were told that there was proof of him having nuclear weopons and was planning to use them. Thus, we invaded and overthrew him and his regime.
North Korea has shown us the weopons, pointed them at us, and fired some in our direction. We have undeniable proof that Kim Jong Il has every intention of using them to some capacity. But now, we are going to handle this diplomatically. Why is it when we have seen the weapons in use and know North Korea's intent, we don't do anything, but when we are not provoked, we attack?
I am genuinely confused by this. I'm not saying we should go and start bombing them, but this tactic is just "bass ackward" as they say. Does anyone have an opinion on this matter?
I know I'm going to be criticized, so bring it on.

Ace Librarian- Read my statement again. I DO NOT want to attack N. Korea. I just thought it was odd that we attacked a country that was not provoking us but sitting back and handling it diplomatically when a country IS provoking us. I also figure (like most here) that Kim Jong Il was doing it for attention, and I know that they were not nukes, but you cannot ignore someone like him and brush him off. This is my point: According to what I can determine Bush's war strategy is, we should have attacked North Korea by now. Hell, we attacked Iraq and they hadn't done anything yet. And thanks to all of you Bush supporters for putting in your two cents. You guys really would support anything he does. We should have tried a little harder handling Hussein diplomatically. Who knows, it may have worked.

Man, I can't find a best answer...It's up to you all! Have fun voting.

Answer 1

Although the intelligence was bad, the provocations where there for years.

Did you forget that Iraq invaded Kuwait?

There is a difference. Saddam got violent and has a history of using WMD in war and his own people. N. Korea is only blowing smoke to get attention.

Answer 2

Kim Jong II has no intention of the sort. This is nothing but a ruse. Read "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu. Understand that everything we are seeing in the press is nothing more than propaganda. We are seeing what global leaders want us to see. Don't think for one second that all of this is not staged to some degree.

Think about this: Who are North Korea's allies? enemies? How are they each playing out this hand? THEN fit the US into the puzzle.

Answer 3

Woah there. It's likely that Pakistan, India, Israel, the UK, France, Russia, and some of the former Soviet republics all have nuclear weapons. Most analysts I've heard say:
1. The N. Korean missile tests failed and
2. The N. Koreans fired their rockets on the 4th of July to get our attention.

You saw what a great job we did in attacking Iraq (NOT). Now you want us to go attack other countries when our troop strength is stretched so thinly? Probably not a good idea. I think diplomacy IS the way to go

Answer 4

There is no resources in North Korea that benefits us. Plus they don't posse a real threat to us. I am going to say this till I am blue in the face. If you have a small Island and crappy nukes it would be curtain death if you launch them at the USA. We will survive there attack but they will not survive ours. There whole existence would end. There for they pose no real treat to us. Why would the most powerful man in Korea want to die for nothing. If they had something like lets say OIL and they pulled this shi* we would be there, that I know for sure 100%. We don't go to war for noble causes anymore we go for the power and the $$$$$$$$

Answer 5

We can't "retaliate" because the NorKs haven't done anything to retaliate _for_. If we proceeded to active measures against them, it would be "preemption". The diplomatic moves we are now making are part of a policy of "deterrence".

BTW, Saddam Hussein _also_ boasted of having weapons oif mass destruction -- and he'd had, and used, them during his war with Iran. (Poison gas -- this was confirmed by Gserman volunteer physicians.) Everybody, not just us, was willing to believe him -- ever since the Japanese Zero surprised us, we've known better than to _under_estimate an enemy. When the Coalition forces were pushing for Baghdad Saddam's own generals urged him to trot out the WMD he'd been boasting of. They were horrified to learn that he'd been bluffing.

Answer 6

1) there ain't no oil in north korea
2) there ain't no al qaeda sympathizers in north korea
3) north korea never tried to assassinated Bush senior
4) we're a bit busy kicking other butts at the moment, we'll get to them.
5) South Korea is our main ally, and they don't want war. I wouldn't either if my only large city was 50 miles from the border

Answer 7

Could it be oh could it be that we leave the handling of N Korea to China and Russia because there is no oil there to make money from? Not to mention we have our hands full in the Middle East without taking on the far east, too.

Answer 8

The answer is oil.
The only reason why Bush attacked Saddam is because of the oil. So could you imagine what Bush could accomplish attacking N.Korea. yes, I agree there should be some action on US's part, but the world is now as political as economical. US might attack N.Korea, but he will get nothing in return, whereasto Iraq, when conquered, gets enormous amounts of cash and petrol, even though N.Korea is literally on our doorsteep.

Answer 9

Don't be confused, as some of the intelligent responders here have said... it's all about the oil and money for our so-called president. Getting our young men and women killed in a war was a smokescreen for his greed. It's a lesson for the kiddies out there!

Answer 10

actually i agree with you. our resources are extremely limited now from the war we are in now. they have waited to long as it is. instead of worrying about Hussein we should have been watching our back door.. you never know who is trying to slip in. north Korea has done just that. now we have no idea what we are in for. pray that war does not come home to our doorstep. i won't say no names but someone is not leading his country right. he needs to pay attention a little better for he is supposed to have our countries best interest at attention.
blessings and love to all,