No matter what the intention is. This is like playing fire that the one get burn may be ourself. Of course people that get hurt always are those innocent ones. To the decision makers they know more than enough how to keep themself safe. Those SOB.

So US bigger hindernce to peaceful reunification of Korea? Bigger than North Korea firing artiliry at South Korean island, sinking South Korean Navy ship in South Korean waters, North Korea opresing its own people, and threatening to wipe Seaul off the map when South offers the slightest critisism of the North? Bigger than all/ any of that? And as I recall last time Norht attempted to "settle" the difference between two Koreas it caused a 4 year war that cost 2 milion Koreans their lives, along with 54,000 Americans and thoughands from other nations in UN comand. To prevent the repeat of that little incident is why we are still there.

So, yeah, 7.62? Do you actually KNOW anything about Korean history? Because there's way, WAY more to this than "we hate commies and like using their flags for target practice".

Always been a WWII freak but in the last couple of years the Korean War has gotten to be my passion as far as history goes, and I find it even more fascinating. Some great books are out there by the men who were there. My metal shop teacher was a Lt. who survived the Chosen Reservoir battle and one of the finest true gentlemen, and tough bastard that ever lived. Brutal hand to hand 20 below zero to 115 above, wave upon wave of Chi-Com all night long. Not many K.W. Vets will talk about what happened over there in my "interviews". Well, hope I did not bore you to death, Hats off to all K.W. Vets and hats off to all that served, no matter where or when.

7.62 just how do you think they are going to reunite? under a democratic pro west goverment or just make korea one big gulag? you need to read some history and some current events then TRY and make a half informed position because you are totally clueless. do you really think the s.koreans would go for that? stonepipe my uncle was at the chosin with 5th marines he became the firechief for the bridgeport ct. f/d. and like your teacher a great man

7.62x39...you need a blank adapter to blow back some of that gas you're putting out.

North Korean government claims it is a provation if some one in South Korea sneezes in a wrong way.

North Korean government claims it is a provation if some one in South Korea sneezes in a wrong way.

There's a SLIGHT double standard to wagging your finger at South Korea for shooting up a flag when North Korea has actually launched attacks on South Korea that have killed its soldiers and sailors. Not to mention always threatening warfare over insults (threatening to declare war is itself a form of provocation).

North Korea is the anchor around South Korea's neck. They should at least be allowed the catharsis of blowing up a piece of fabric. America doesn't threaten war every time a mob burns an American flag.

There's a SLIGHT double standard to wagging your finger at South Korea for shooting up a flag when North Korea has actually launched attacks on South Korea that have killed its soldiers and sailors.

Look at it this way; N koreans are already a lost cause, they know it everybody knows it.

They keep threatening s korea and others.. They have nothing to lose (literally).. So, why freak with them and rub them in the wrong direction? You do not want the rookie il yong dik excited, he can launch a missile or to s korea and cause a lot of casualties...

You have a point, but it's an argument in favor of remaining in fear. We know that North Korea can do considerable damage if they were ever pushed to attack the south. We know that their leadership is erratic, unbalanced, and absurdly prideful in their cesspool of a nation. And we don't want to wipe them out pre-emptively, even though we certainly could.

So we walk on eggshells, terrified that the slightest misstep could send these childish lunatics into a rage? I'm all for tactful diplomacy, and I agree that it was hardly wise to advertise the hypothetical target of these exercises, but tactful foreign policy should be reserved for those countries run by grown-ups. North Korea should be treated with neither respect nor fear. To submit to them is to legitimize international bullying (the worst kind, considering thousands of lives are on the line).

Sparrow1 ...Let's see...the North Koreans sink a destroyer, shell an island, send commandos via tunnel and submarine, assassinate citizens overseas...and you think using the North Korean flag as a target is provocative? I admire you sense of proportionality. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the invasion...not that anyone in their right minds would consider that provocative.

It's still provocative even with your argument RT, and thanks for your admiration

You're welcome !

Fran NJ...I'm just guessing mind you...but somehow I suspect you wouldn't be planning on conducting war games at all. I promise that the next time I plan a war game I'll call you first and we can chat about the details...fair enough?

So is usa.

Not just "good". There really is no other feasible enemy for South Korea, save for the possibility of a freak alien invasion or portal to Mordor opening up.

The only other adversary that even comes to mind is China, but no rational analysis would have them attacking South Korea or vice versa, even in support of their little "friend" NK.

While I certainly hope the North never actually starts a war, or nobody starts a war with the North, China isn't going to join the war on North Korea's side again. There's zero chance of it happening. They're not like North Korea anymore; they have a lot to lose and absolutely nothing to gain by putting their soldiers in harm's way for the sake of the deluded N. Korean leaders. And what are they supposed to tell the international community? China is trying its level best to become a respected world power. You think they're going to throw away their status, their soldiers, and risk their newfound prosperity for North Korea?

No. If Kim Jong The Next One starts something, he's on his own.

From what I have read the Chinese joined the party when we got too close for comfort and Mac was flapping his pie hole from the safety of Japan. He also had a world class ball licker in Ned Almond (SP?) who was an even bigger ass than he was.

That would invite catastrophe upon the South, which constantly lives under its guns.

If you want to realistically talk about wiping North Korea off the map, we're talking pre-emptive strikes (which are hardly any worse than goading another country into a war anyway), either with nuclear weapons or mass air raids. Gotta hit the artillery first, then sweep the rest of the country with explosives.

Though as a rule, genocide is usually the last resort when dealing with uppity rogue nations.

@SF

I agree with most of what you said.

However it wouldn't be genocide as there is no genetic difference between North and South Korea. It would just be brutal warfare.

Of course it wouldn't be just napalm, but if you seperated the border with a wall of fire the north couldnt just steam roll the south.

Also the north's power is VERY limited. They have nukes, but no way of deploying them short of a bomber, which would be shot down. And we would retaliate with nukes of our own, which would be catastrophic for a country so small. Artillery could be countered with fortified bunkers and bomb shelters.

And put it this way, when will the south ever have peace? They sure won't so long as N. Korea exists, it might cost lives, but that's the price you pay when defeating an enemy. The war between N. and S. Korea never really ended, it has to sometime.

OO FUKKING RAH it is not if but when n.korea decides to attack s.korea .the best way to solve this is strike first . if we would do it tomorrow most the world would be happy we did it . and the world would be better off for it !

And how would they get the nuclear warhead (which they can't build small enough to fit onto their missiles) to our base?

SF is right.

North Korea does not have any effective missile delivery system for their nuclear warheads. And even if they did we could still set up our anti-missile systems, which would work almost flawlessly on any technology the North Koreans could come up with.

Bombers would be detected and immediately shot down. North Korea is really not all that powerful, they have a large army and are willing to use it, but that just makes them crazy, and right now nobody really wants to deal with them. Numbers don't count much in war anymore, a missile kills everything in an area, regardless of how many people are there.

Just for the sake of discussion...the North Koreans have dug multiple tunnels under the DMZ and occasionally the South Koreans find them and everyone is always impressed with how big the tunnels are and how the North Koreans were able to dig such large tunnels without being detected. If the North Koreans are hell-bent on a war (which even they know they can't win) and destroying as much of South Korea's economy in the process then planting an atomic demolition munition in a tunnel yet to be detected is not out of the realm of possibility. The US kept just such SADM munitions during the late fifties through the 1990's.