How serious of a threat is North Korea?

Question

I was stationed over there and learned that the North has 1.5 million troops at the border ready to attack at the drop of a dime. I also learned they have enough artillery to keep a sustained rate of fire for 3 days straight. I know they don't have much of an airforce, and Kim Jung Il is crazy. Launching those missiles on July 4th this past year really got me concerned. The South Koreans act as if they are not that big of a threat, and the U.S tries to avoid any battles with them. I saw on CNN the other day that the North's troops were making faces at the South's of all things. Does the North know something we don't? Why are they so confident?

Answer 1

North Korea is a threat in the world but not to the United States directly. They are more of a threat to South Korea than anyone. The South Korean leaders have become almost blind to the fact that North Korea is a military power in the region and they need to be aware that Kim Jong Il is an unbalanced person and if he wanted to, he could launch an attack that we, as Americans, couldnt stop until the North was south of the Han river in Seoul. We would be able to defeat the North but it would be a tough fight.

Answer 2

1 United States
2 Russia
3 China
4 India
5 Germany
6 France
7 Japan
8 Turkey
9 Brazil
10 Great Britain
11 Italy
12 South Korea
13 Indonesia
14 Mexico
15 Canada
16 Iran
17 North Korea
18 Egypt
19 Spain
20 Pakistan
21 Australia
22 Saudi Arabia
23 Argentina
24 Sweden
25 Israel
26 Greece
27 Taiwan
28 Syria
29 Philippines
30 Poland
31 Ukraine
32 Norway
33 Iraq
34 Venezuela
35 Libya
36 Lebanon
37 Nepal
38 Afghanistan
GFP Ranking

Updated 08/15/2006

1 United States
2 Russia
3 China
4 India
5 Germany
6 France
7 Japan
8 Turkey
9 Brazil
10 Great Britain
11 Italy
12 South Korea
13 Indonesia
14 Mexico
15 Canada
16 Iran
17 North Korea
18 Egypt
19 Spain
20 Pakistan
21 Australia
22 Saudi Arabia
23 Argentina
24 Sweden
25 Israel
26 Greece
27 Taiwan
28 Syria
29 Philippines
30 Poland
31 Ukraine
32 Norway
33 Iraq
34 Venezuela
35 Libya
36 Lebanon
37 Nepal
38 Afghanistan

Above you will find a basic ranking model of the world military powers. Values are based on a country's placement in our various lists and shown as a collective average. Naturally a list such as this is designed to be subjective so there is room for disagreement as to its accuracy (or inaccuracy).

NOTE: Nuclear weapons, military experience, unit training and equipment quality are not taken into account. This is a list based soley on the officially reported numbers presented throughout this site.

Answer 3

The major problem with North Korea is the fact that no one really knows what is going on over there except when they decide as you have noted that they want to test their nuclear weapons "as a test". In South Korea, the people and government know that if North Korea in any way touches South Korea, the United States is going to step in. In all honesty, very, very, very, little is know about North Korea. I believe that there has been only one film released from North Korea when a reporter was allowed in the country once or something we watched it in Western Cultures last year. North Korea, is a huge threat and as far as the American people know, the United State's nuclear weapons haven't been tested in quite some time. They're confident b/c they know what they can do w/ a minimal warning. The biggest issue that the US should be focusing on is peace talks with both Iran AND North Korea(most important). North Korea has the weapons and they know it.

Answer 4

They're confident for the same reason that football players are confident before a game. They get pumped up to do their job, and the testosterone makes them feel that they can do anything. It helps when the government is your only source of information, and they continuously reinforce the notion that your enemy is weak.

As for how big of a threat they are, I'd say pretty big. I'm not scared that Russia and China have nuclear missiles that can reach the United States, but if North Korea managed to achieve the same capability, I would be scared. North Korea is led by a megalomaniacal and, in my opinion, mentally unbalanced leader who I feel would not hesitate to use nukes.

Answer 5

It is always best to be obnoxious when you have nothing to loose. North Korea has nothing to loose that is what may make it dangerous. Ultimately however I think the threat is being overplayed. If the North wanted War they could have had it many, many times since the 1950s. That they have a few missiles does not change the equation that much, even if they had nuclear weapons because they know full well that launching nuclear weapons would be suicide.

Answer 6

I guess it wasn't that high on George Bush's list of threats when he bombed and attacked Iraq, for no good reason. He seems to be ignoring them like maybe they will go away. Iran is another country that would like a piece of us. I am sure they will get it before it is over.

Answer 7

I think they are more of a threat than the average American thinks they are but I don't think they are as threatening as they would like for the rest of the world to believe they are. I think they'll just be happy if they piss off POTUS and get a response there...it'll validate their existence...lol

Answer 8

They know that if they keep throwing hissy-fits they will get the attention they crave.

I think we should start bombing them ............. with food, medical supplies and such. After a few weeks switch to satelite dishes and receivers, TV's, iPods, etc. Just see what happens.

Answer 9

The man is wacked - who knows what he'll do - or why. I think Japan will need to step up and take the lead there.

Answer 10

I don't think they are a threat to us, but maybe to south korea.