Unfortunately, North Korean, like most rogue states, isn't as simple as it appears on the surface. Certainly us attacking them would be exactly what the leadership wants.
The leaders of these countries, Iran, Libya, North Korean, etc. spout this rhetoric, not for other countries, but for their own domestic audiences. We all see Iran's Ahmadinejad as crazy. He is actually a very intelligent man who is great at what he does. His main goal is to continually convince his people that the US is a real and present danger. And every time we threaten them with sanctions the people are convinced we are, and it strengthens his position. He is much like the new Korean leader. Neither of them has the power to rule. In Iran it is pretty public. The Mullahs rule the country. Even if Ahmadinejad wanted to be a moderate, he couldn't. In fact he made some mild attempts in that direction a couple of years ago and was struck down hard.
In Korean it is not so public, the power is the cadre of old generals. In all of these countries the only thing to be gained is personal wealth and power for those at the top. In some cases, and it used to be in North Korean, their sabre rattling brought negotiated aid which they badly need, in return for them shutting up for a bit. But the aid runs out and off they go again. Since our foreign policy has gotten less friendly, there is no more aid so they do they only thing they seem to know and that is turn up the rhetoric.
Someone pointed out correctly that the only ulimate solution is China, but the last thing they want to do is have to is fight a bunch of power crazied generals and take care of millons of straving people. And Koreans and Chinese have not historically been the best of friends, despite the Korean war and since. It may yet happen that they step in, somehow. The last UN sanction was the first ever, I believe, where China voted for it rather than just passing so it could go forward.
I don't pretend to have a clue about how to deal with people like this. I do fell they are desperate. And that can lead to all kind of things. I don't think our stepped up threats really help. When we decided we needed to label these three countries the "Axis of Evil" it really worsen things and it hasn't improved other than Libya. And I guess you could claim a victory of sorts there.
I'm not too worried about Korean, because a single submarine or aircraft carrier could destroy the whole country, but at what cost. Their people only know what they are told. I think there is still only one TV channel in the north and all it does is tell them how holy and wonderful their leader is. And they are starving, by the hundreds of thousands. Their populance still things the war is going on with the south and the US is getting ready to invade any minute and the dear leader is the only thing stopping him.
Iran is truly the country to worry about. Unlike any of the other countries we've faced or chosen to challenge, they are nearly a world power. They have lots of oil, and populance that is for the most part behind their leader, an army that is well trained and well equipped, as opposed to the conscripts in Iraq. They believe in what they are doing. And here is a bit of heresy. If you were Iran and you were surrounded by nuclear powers like India and Pakastan who might decide to start lobbing nukes around in your area, or worse yet Israel who has bombs and are proven to have the will to use them if they feel it is necessary, wouldn't you feel like your were entitled to building your own nukes? That's not to mention all the former USSR nukes floating around in god knows whose hands near by. Don't misunderstand. I wish there were all disarmed, but none of those I named will be. And we cannot do it with all the sanctions in the world.
My solution is to pack up every Kardashian, every Real Housewife, all of the Swamp People and especially all of Honey Boo Boo's family and send them over to North Korea. In one generation they will have no teeth, be living on gator and be importing enough makeup to sink the country.
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Finished 40+ years in radio and looking for a new adventure.
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