North Korea sabre rattling matches the US

Doesn't look too rosy, does it? Bush just keeps digging the hole deeper!

hi fup wecome aboard

Hey Thanks Dyslexia.

What does that mean are they going to attack South Korea? I doubt it. The problem IMO is Bush. He and his administration have inflamed the situation from the moment they took office. North Korea is just responding in kind. The Bully is being stood up to.
I can't help but wonder what would happen if we pulled our troops off the Korean peninsular and let the two Koreas settle their own affair. The reason we got involved in Korea in 1950 was to thwart the domino effect. That reasoning or threat no longer exists. So what is our justification for remaining. In addition it was a UN police action
why not turn it back to them. Let the French, Russians, Germans and Chinese take over the policing duties.

au1929, That's a great idea!

Re: North Korea sabre rattling matches the US

I like that the BBC seems to have this one right; the goal of NK is to ratchet up tensions. Now, anyone want to hazard a guess or opinion as to why they want to do that? I'll even give you a few options:

1) They want a war with the US.
2) They want a war with SK.
3) They want nuclear weapons.
4) They are manipulating the situation and playing a game of brinskmanship in an attempt to force the US to make policy and monetary concessions favorable to them.

Feel free to pick more than one or offer your own.

Well, 20-25 nuclear strikes (1-1.5 megaton each) may make Kim sane (if he miraculously remains alive). But I do not think that there will be any need in nuking N. Korea. Defeat of Saddam may immediately intimidate Kim, and he will find more polite ways to beg for financial aid than these he currently tries to implement.

Tres
How about they are responding to a perceived threat from the US.
The Bush administration has made diplomatic blunder after blunder in dealing with Kim . Who,admittedly belongs on a funny farm.

To believe that you would have to believe that they (NK) are unaware of what is going on with Iraq. Is that your contention?

I would in fact argue that you have it exactly backwards... North Korea is doing as they are doing at this time because it is the one time that they are sure they are not threatened by us, because we are already engaged in threatening Iraq. They are gambling that we can not commit troops or resources to force them to do much of anything while we are engaged in working to force Saddam's hand (or attack him, if necessary). It is a fairly safe bet, in the short term.

Tres
Do you remember 'Axis of Evil." Kim is I think he said toad or something like that and I hate him, We will not have discussions with N. Korea. We can fight two wars at once. We are moving more forces into that area. Do those seem like peaceful gestures?
Admittedly at this point he has us by the short hairs since he can see we are backing down. No sanctions, no military action and let's talk. He called our bluff. Who do we have to blame if not our fearless, while in his bunker, leader Bush.
Wouldn't it be great if as in days of yore the leader rode at the head of his troops.