North Korean Shelling of South Korea.

[Tico_1990]

First of all, the korea's are still at war, they have never signed a peace treaty, just a cease-fire.
Secondly, South Korea can't possibly be a NATO member since it's not located on the North Atlantic ocean. As IJoe said any intervention by NATO forces in the korean conflict has no legal basis what so ever. The NATO was established to defend its member countries from any aggression on any of its members.
The UN however can intervene in a legal manner. Interestingly enough though, if the UN were to intervene, than China and Russia could join in.
Either way, I don't believe that the US/S-Korea will start a war over this. It's not worth the trouble. On top of that, public opinion in the US isn't exactly positive to war at the moment I think.
As for the deployement options of N-Korean's nukes, they might be unable to hit the USA or Europe it self, they can however hit South Korea and Japan, both of which contain US militairy bases. On top of that, if I'm not mistaken than the US signed a treaty saying that they will protect Japan from nuclear aggression.
Any way, I'll be more than interested to see how this develops.

[IJoe]

First of all, the korea's are still at war, they have never signed a peace treaty, just a cease-fire.

Damn, I was saving it as a last resort 

[Paciat]

but what we're talking about here is North-Korea..
which by the way has twice the amount of troops of america and russia combined (5 million)

According to Wiki:
According to the U.S. Department of State, North Korea has the fifth-largest army in the world, at an estimated 1.21 million armed personnel, with about 20% of men aged 17–54 in the regular armed forces.

Still an impresive number of "Volk Koreans", but if Russia called their reserve (constripts that got training but are not in the army right now) 5 times as more men.

[Akalonor]

Who cares about the dead Chinise. Their poor. Only US lives count.

You either:
1.forgot smileys
2.are very self indulged and ignorant
3. very Rascist
All that aside:

Something is brewing , NK is pawing for attention, who nos , they may get some.

[Newbie.]

Well, if a Second Korean War Bles out...
NK Can't call on more l33t Soviet Pilots

[Dominic 'Dragon' Cassidy]

It's probably all down to the fact Kim's son is now officially going to take up leadership - they're wanting to show that they're still cool and powerful, and nothing's going to change.

Either way, they chose a shitty time to do it.
China is well on it's way to becoming the richest - and therefore most powerful country in the world, with debts to China reaching the trillions. So they can't be fucked endangering they're enterprise; they're too capitalist.
Plus, EU + Russia have decided finally to work together to make an Anti-Nuke shield over Europe. Meaning it's highly unlikely they'll join in (least not on NK's side) cos they're finally getting some trust and union with the rest of the world (thereby; power), Pre-Soviet, Pre-Georgia, Pre-Anything else the Americans don't like just cos it's the Russians doing it (even if they would've liked to).


I'm sure before 2000, or earlier this all could've been a lot worse (although we did have a Korean War already) - but right down, no one can be fucked with Korea - they've got too much on their plates.
It's like, "Now Kim, be a good boy and go play in your room, Mummy's busy."

Timing and current era, in my opinion, means that the armies of the 142 million strong population of Russia and 1.3 billion population of China; won't be on North Korea's side this time if it does something stupid.

[IJoe]

I think, that the SU since about 1985, or Russia at any time would not go into any kind of full scale war because of North Korea due to the simple fact, that the government of both states accordingly, nor the general population never really cared about NK  (unlike Yugoslavia  i.e.). It would've been rather left for China.

[SK8ERatWAR]

i guess you're right
we'll see what happens!
but indeed, if they do something stupid, they won't have the support of China and Russia.

[Pauly3]

i have just recently seen an ex-NK elite soldier (who defected 5 years ago) talk about the state of the NK-Army
He sayd they are not ready for any war cause they lack food, fuel and most of the massive numbers are compsed of "consripts" with only AK-47 and nor armor or AT whatsoever

[Ltevanlee]

Also, considering history, Korean war in '50s ended in an ugly nasty beating of US forces by chinese "volunteers" (about 200 000 of which joined NK army in a moment of it's near defeat, and turned the tides to the opposite).

Who cares about the dead Chinise. Their poor. Only US lives count.

The Chinese followed soviet style tactics back in Korea, (Alot of Human Waves= US Troops fall back) The Sheer amount of men started to overrun US troops, this shows little regard for there troops, so when they over-expanded they ran the other way, falling back to the 38th Parallel. Now for the shelling, NK is F***ed economically, they have nothing to lose. Now (this is what I think at least) the US is just waiting for the NK to go into a revolution and let the situation play out. Then we can guess what happens next. Although, to conuterdict my own statement, the NK has (I think its the 3rd) 3rd largest army in the world, and they could do a Tiananmen Square 1989 all over again.

[IJoe]

Also, considering history, Korean war in '50s ended in an ugly nasty beating of US forces by chinese "volunteers" (about 200 000 of which joined NK army in a moment of it's near defeat, and turned the tides to the opposite).

Who cares about the dead Chinise. Their poor. Only US lives count.

The Chinese followed soviet style tactics back in Korea, (Alot of Human Waves= US Troops fall back) The Sheer amount of men started to overrun US troops, this shows little regard for there troops, so when they over-expanded they ran the other way, falling back to the 38th Parallel. Now for the shelling, NK is F***ed economically, they have nothing to lose. Now (this is what I think at least) the US is just waiting for the NK to go into a revolution and let the situation play out. Then we can guess what happens next. Although, to conuterdict my own statement, the NK has (I think its the 3rd) 3rd largest army in the world, and they could do a Tiananmen Square 1989 all over again.

I could argue on the most said above, but what's the point? You, americans, know everything about everything (that's sarcasm), and always turn out to be "right", aren't you? So I'll just shut my "comi mouth" and celebrate the New Year!

Cheers to you, "freedom"-lovers, that started most of wars in the last hundred years!!!

[Panzer4life]

Look, even if North Korea's convential military can't reach any of the US or EU terriortories, the North Koreans can launch nukes at Japan and South Korea and will kill millions. They don't have to be sucessful, the impact of even 5 nukes on SK and Japan would be enough to devastate those nations. They don't really have any natrual resources, so they can't rebuild like the Us or EU nations. So we should do something before NK turns to nuking those 2 countries.

[IJoe]

Look, even if North Korea's convential military can't reach any of the US or EU terriortories, the North Koreans can launch nukes at Japan and South Korea and will kill millions. They don't have to be sucessful, the impact of even 5 nukes on SK and Japan would be enough to devastate those nations. They don't really have any natrual resources, so they can't rebuild like the Us or EU nations. So we should do something before NK turns to nuking those 2 countries.

Yeah! Sure! Why not?
Right after you find any WoMD in Irak. OK?

[Ltevanlee]

Look, even if North Korea's convential military can't reach any of the US or EU terriortories, the North Koreans can launch nukes at Japan and South Korea and will kill millions. They don't have to be sucessful, the impact of even 5 nukes on SK and Japan would be enough to devastate those nations. They don't really have any natrual resources, so they can't rebuild like the Us or EU nations. So we should do something before NK turns to nuking those 2 countries.

Yeah! Sure! Why not?
Right after you find any WoMD in Irak. OK?

That was Bush's fault, and he made us all look bad.

[IJoe]

Look, even if North Korea's convential military can't reach any of the US or EU terriortories, the North Koreans can launch nukes at Japan and South Korea and will kill millions. They don't have to be sucessful, the impact of even 5 nukes on SK and Japan would be enough to devastate those nations. They don't really have any natrual resources, so they can't rebuild like the Us or EU nations. So we should do something before NK turns to nuking those 2 countries.

Yeah! Sure! Why not?
Right after you find any WoMD in Irak. OK?

That was Bush's fault, and he made us all look bad.

WW2 was Hitler's fault, and his alone. He made germans look just so bad: he made them slay all those innocent people of all "untermenshen" nationalities, he practically forced them, personally. In fact, germans themselves share no part of his disgrace. Am I right? If yes, than you surely have a point, since the next war USA are going to start will be a fault of yet another president.