North Korea launches rocket

1. Perhaps, but we drop a radioactive blanket on a friendly nation, we're going to get other allies on our asses in a hurry. You think the world hated us during W's administration and the Iraq war? Imagine how they're going to see us if we kill thousands of South Koreans and salt millions of acres of land because fallout doesn't respect the DMZ. Furthermore, if we respond to one missile with hundreds, there *will* be much noise in the international community, and it won't be in the form of "USA!" chants.

I get that we couldn't let NK lob a nuke at an American city without significant retribution. If they enveloped Anchorage or Honolulu in a mushroom cloud and we responded with diplomacy, an aid package and limited conventional air strikes as a last resort, we might as well hang a big 'ol "SHOVE A 10 MEGATON-TIPPED ICBM UP OUR ANUS, WE'LL BE COOL" sign on our UN rep's back. But wholesale destruction gets us worldwide condemnation at best and Russia and China ramping shit up at worst.

2. If Japan had nukes, China would lose their shit so fast you'd think Dr. Nick gave them 1 billion budget colonoscopies.

3. Russia and China have better relations with North Korea. If they tried to sabre rattle with them, they're pathologically stupid.

 

This has the makings of the best ED drug ad ever.

 

If North Korea ever does launch a nuke to provoke a war, is the U.S. really at the top of their list? Seems like they'd send one to Seoul or Japan first. NK's main strategic goal, near as anyone can tell, is to control the Korean peninsula.
A nuclear strike on South Korea or Japan would cripple the United States' ability to respond quickly by destroying its forward outposts. It would also cripple South Korea's response, which would clear the way for an invasion -- the real threat from North Korea. Their strength lies in manpower and volume. A couple of strategic nuclear strikes, coupled with a mass invasion of South Korea, could lead to success.
Nuking Anchorage, Honolulu or Los Angeles does nothing but give the U.S. ample justification to retaliate. The minute a mushroom cloud appears, the U.S. becomes sympathetic in the eyes of the world. At best for the North Koreans, the U.S. lands in South Korea and proceeds to kick the ever-living shit out of NK in a conventional war. At worst for the North Koreans, Pyongyang becomes a fireball 30 minutes after their missile is launched AND they get their shit handed to them in the conventional war that follows.
Either way, it doesn't end well for the NKs. The thing no one knows for sure, is if they're smart enough to figure that out.

 

EXCELLENT!!!

 

"Truman was too much of a pussy wimp to let MacArthur go in there and blow out those Commie bastards"
Thornton Melon

 

If NK dropped a nuke on Japan, Japan would have its own nukes in the air before the cloud hit 10,000 feet. And yes, they do have them. And no, the Chinese would not be happy, but if it was a case of a clearly-identifiable launch from NK, they would understand. In fact, I would probably put more money on the Chinese offering to do it themselves (and maintaining the fiction Japan has no nukes, and also defusing the need for the US to do it).

The China-NK relationship has been very fractious over the years. China could not tolerate NK on their southern border taking it upon themselves to launch nuclear weapons at will. They'd respond to it like the family in "Old Yeller." If you have a rabid dog in your back yard, somebody has to put it down.

If NK identifiably nukes anybody anywhere in the world, Pyongyang is toast within 20 minutes. That would be the minimum response conceivable.

 

If North Korea launches a nuke right now, ground zero is the shanty across the road from the silo.

 

Outstanding pull

 

They'd unleash enough conventional weapons to level Seoul. Bust some dams. Flood the South Korean countryside. Invade through secret tunnels under the DMZ. Nuke would be placed on a fishing boat and detonated in an important enemy harbor.

More info on their "dirty" methods: http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=6819&PAGE=1

 

Wile E. Coyote can relate.

 

If someone nuked North Korea, would anyone really be able to notice?

NK is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. It already looks like ground zero. What would a nuke do? Kill millions of impoverished people who'd probably be better off dead anyway?

NK makes Afghanistan and Cuba look modernized.

The best thing that could have happened was their rocket being a major failure and hopefully every other one they fire off will have the same results

 

If is a big word in this country. And IF they ever get the capabilities to launch nuclear rockets, it will not be pretty for several nations. I promise and shit you not.