What would be the political ramifications if the US threatened Korea in no uncertain terms with nuclear war?

Question

I mean if Bush said on a televised news conference "We will do whatever it takes to prevent a nuclear North Korea. We and our allies are prepared to levy all the sanctions necessary to stop Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons, and if North Korea so much as shoots fireworks across the borders of one of our allies, they will start a nuclear exchange that they will not survive." What would happen? How would N. Korea and the rest of the world react to this being said by our president?

Answer 1

Threatening nuclear war would violate many, many accords against the use of nuclear weapons that the U.S. has helped create since the end of WWII.

Actually threatening to use them would more than likely cause the U.S. to lose reputation worldwide (for real, not the Iraq War kind of loss of reputation), our stock market would drop as markets worldwide would anticipate disaster (and pressure from investors), corporations, investors and influential statesmen from around the world would apply incredible pressure on the U.S. government (the U.S. isn't as autonomous as it's opponents think) and the President and his cabinet would become more isolated than ever.

Lastly, the phone would ring in the Oval office, as people like Vladimir Putin (who has his own nukes) would call and remind the President that the use of such power makes all past accords and agreements null and void.

Nukes represent world-power. Those who HAVE that kind of power are loathe to use it. Play a game of "Go" and you'll understand. Sometimes it's better to rattle the sword in its sheath, than take it out and be forced to use it.

Answer 2

You sure you got that Bush quote right? Shoot fireworks and we'll nuke you? Or are you just kind of thinking that sounds like something he'd say, and even if he didn't use those exact words, well, we all know he wants to PUSH THE BUTTON! Let me tell you how this sort of thing works, Real World. North Korea lobs a rocket or two over Japan. We sink a couple or three North Korean destroyers. Blockade the coastline. Nothing in. Nothing out. Our Los Angeles-class attack subs have the North Korean coastline down cold. Next move is up to the Dear Little Dog-Eater. He's already gotten word over the past several months, through diplomatic "backchannels", that if he is stupid enough to actual fire a nuclear warhead at Japan, he's toast. This policy is hardwired. No room for discussion. The commanders of fleet "boomer" subs don't even have to double-check with the Pentagon. Just launch. Keep in mind that North Korea has a very primitive weapon. Basically the kind of nuke any kid can build in his garage with a handfull of centrefuges and a hundred pounds of yellowcake. On the other hand, the United States has some pretty exotic weapons. We can put a nuclear warhead the size of a softball right through the Little Dog-Eater's bedroom window, and I exaggerate not. With this guy we don't have to make nice like we do with Arabs that have a lot of oil. We can and will whack this nut if he tries anything with Japan.

Answer 3

it quite is a fashion of operation with a view to create a communicate and allow for the potential to no longer have human beings throughout you and bothering you is what i've got heard politicians say on the information. besides the shown fact that, interior the top, you will be able to desire to appreciate that the main conflict there replaced into between south and north korea. it quite is frightening through fact while conflict comes, then it is going to become who are you able to believe. wars get bloody. even bastards can proceed to exist peace, so, interior the top, it quite is a challenge the place you merely might desire to choose for the ideal, and take it an afternoon at a time. additionally, desire that mostly, each and every little thing will artwork out.

Answer 4

that sounds like what is going on now... he said the same thing except the "...so much as shoot fireworks..."

so the world would react as it is now...

we're too bogged down in iraq and afghanistan to do a thing militarily to north korea... thats why the sanctions are placed

Answer 5

The world would go ballistic! China would immediately go to defcon 2. They would immediately expect Bush to apologize and back off. If he didn't the diplomatic world would go from bad to worse. China could shut us off from our cheap materials fix until Bush folded which wouldn't be long as the stock market would crash big time. Thus you see bush tiptoeing around this issue.

Answer 6

No one wants to start an all out Nuclear war, because it would mean that the human race would cease to exist

Answer 7

Incoming! and the end of all Americans Russians Gooks,Blacks,Germans and Humans.