Political Crossfire Forums

In retrospect, I am pretty guilty of downplaying or waving off this threat. I still remember guffawing when GWB Jr. described Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the axis of evil. He was two-thirds wrong, but when it came to North Korea, history has proven him to be correct in his sense of urgency and the strength of his words. It would have been far preferable to handle this situation prior to their sustained successes with nuclear weapons, and the international community was simply wrong about the timescale they would be developed - as was I.

The only way to avoid a military conflict, as far as I can see, is for China to handle this problem and assume control of North Korea, directly or indirectly. If that doesn't happen, I don't see any viable way to remove the regime without direct military conflict.

China will not handle the problem because at present, it isn't a problem for China. Financial sanctions and a nuclear Japan or Taiwan will quickly change that equation.

saz, you are one goddamn amazing armchair general

however, i will say that having china having 7 neighbors around them have nukes will probably have them act like putin and ratchet up their nuclear program again

2017 is shaping up to be a pretty bad year in general. Everywhere.

Why can't we live with a nuclear armed DPRK?

In our world of gangbanger nations, the nuke is like a shiny new gun for the collection of must haves for any aspiring tyrant that just wants to be somebody in the world of gangbanger nations. Kim Jung Unstable could be an example to the other gangbanger nations if you misuse part of your collection. Maybe that's what's needed. Who knows?

it is a mistake to write the man off as unstable. he is far more stable than donald trump and is a rational actor. this also doesn't mean he isn't dangerous: he is