What should the United States do now that North Korea has once again tested nuclear weapons?

Question

I've heard that fighting them isn't a good option as they have the third largest army in the world. I've also heard that if we fight them China joins their side.

I've also heard that laying economic sactions (spelling?) isn't effective as China and South Korea won't go along with it.

The third option I've heard is that they go back to 6 way party talks. However the idea of making concessions to North Korea reminds me of another time.

So what other options do we have?

Answer 1

The best answer is to force china into showing them how vunerable they are. China has been the only thing keeping N.Korea in any position that it is in. Fighting is not the answer no. China would take thier side. But if the US can slight china's hand to take care of the Kim jong-il the US can jump in on china's side and the N.Koreans wouldn't have anything to really say about it. The problem is that china is the way it is and would just conquer korea without a second thought making another iron curtain and the like. stuff that no one in the US would like (Communist expansion man...) The only other way is if we could just get china to cut off any and all costly 'aid' they give n. korea. (basically all thier oil and power resources are gone in a week. seriously china is the only reasonn. korea is still around.

Answer 2

I don't think there should be any concessions whatsoever. Bush senior withdrew nuclear weapons from South Korea, and then Clinton just gave the PDRK a nuclear reactor. South Korea has been maintaining the sunshine policy, but still there is no change of attitude in the north.

High seas interdiction could be held out as a consequence of further tests. It would be humiliating for Kim to have his ships stopped at sea and inspected. What's more humiliating is the fact that there could be drugs, counterfeit money, missiles, etc. onboard. There's not very much he can do to prevent that, it's not as if the PDRK has much of a navy. I think the 6 way talks should continue if possible. China, Japan, Russia and the RIK has as much as stake in this as the USA, so they should be at the table.

Answer 3

What do you mean, once again? If proven true, this would be the first time they tested for NUCLEAR weapons. What sanctions are left? They have been sanctioned for so many years (50t) that their Army is now finally showing the signs.. They are smaller, weaker people than their counterparts to the South, due to malnutrition. Their populace still lives in total poverty, as any monies coming in go to the Military and themselves. Are they a threat? Is Chavez a threat? Is Iran a threat? One on one, NO.
Do any of them really have allies? NO!!! If this escalates, and more sanctions don't work, what do we do? Be a PAPER tiger, or ACT. If reports are correct, the bomb they detonated was a wimp compared to the ones we dropped 51 years ago in Japan to end WWII (equivalency of 550 pounds of TNT vs. 12,500 lbs.) One of our TODAY bombs would make South Korea an Island. Do you think China is ready to face that? Russia couldn't, and probably they still have more weaponry than China will have for decades to come. And then will Iran FINALLY stop their proliferation policies, and if not, face the same fate? No more pussy-footing around. And Venezuela will hopefully evict the scoundrel that has been stealing and ruining their country soon, plus Chavez is a pimple on an elephant's ***. Kick ***, or shut up, are the last options that they have left us.

Answer 4

In order to assess the situation, we first need to determine the cause of the problem. President Bush deiced that Iraq was the threat to the US; however it is now definitely clear that President Bush made another terrible mistake. He went to war with the wrong country. This shouldn’t come to anyone as a surprise, because Bush was criticized for going to Iraq in the first place. Every one knew that one day North Korea would pose a threat. Now it seems that Bush wants to go to war with Iran. This proves that Bush clearly wants to destroy the Muslim world. The reason why the Muslim terrorist hate the US, is because of what Bush does to them in the first place! The US seems to poke a stick at the Middle East, and eventually some stupid radicals will bite.

Answer 5

Remember, size doesn't matter. Especially in North Korea's case heh. Anyway, the United States just has to sit back, play as an observer and make comments. Japan and the United Nations are going to enjoy this.

Answer 6

Actually China is not happy about thuis latest test. Neither is Japan. The only thing we can do is IMPEACH BUSH for being asleep at the wheel, depleting our forces, using all our $$$ and fighting the wron war, ia any. This is not about politics, but about the World taking us seriously again. Just picture this, although I cannot stand what North Korea stands for and am abhorred by their human rights abuses, I can imagine they must feel threatened bu BUSH, as an imperialist, especially that their regimne is not democratic and they do not share BUSH's religion. Look at the example BUSH has set...

A new US leader will be able to get around a table and use the diplomacy that this US regime has failed upon.

So how about HILARY for President and Bill Clinton for Secretary of State.

Time for a new dynasty....

Answer 7

Give nukes to Taiwan and Japan to spite China and while were at it, Georgia could use a few.

Answer 8

Japan and the USA should do a naval blockade around N Korea so as to assure they don't ore hardware for their bomb or export their bombs to terrorists and they should do it NOW. HBow do you talk to a foreflusher loke the leader of N. Korea?

Answer 9

It's time for China to step up and get their neighbors in line. We should stop buying from Wal Mart if they don't!

Answer 10

Unconditionally surrender.