North Korea says don't mess with us as U.S. plans next move

[webfact]

North Korea says don't mess with us as U.S. plans next move

By Ju-min Park

REUTERS

 

The sun set in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States was looking at ways to pressure North Korea over its nuclear programme as North Korean state media warned the Americans of a "super-mighty preemptive strike", saying don't "mess with us".

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hard line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has rebuffed admonitions from sole major ally China and proceeded with nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

 

Reclusive North Korea regularly threatens to destroy Japan, South Korea and the United States and has shown no let-up in its belligerence after a failed missile test on Sunday, a day after putting on a huge display of missiles at a parade in Pyongyang.

 

"We're reviewing all the status of North Korea, both in terms of state sponsorship of terrorism as well as the other ways in which we can bring pressure on the regime in Pyongyang to re-engage with us, but re-engage with us on a different footing than past talks have been held," Tillerson told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, on a tour of Asian allies, has said repeatedly the "era of strategic patience" with North Korea is over.

 

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, on a visit to London, said the military option must be part of the pressure brought to bear.

 

"Allowing this dictator to have that kind of power is not something that civilised nations can allow to happen," he said in reference to Kim.

 

Ryan said he was encouraged by the results of efforts to work with China to reduce tensions, but that it was unacceptable North Korea might be able to strike allies with nuclear weapons.

 

North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

 

Click http://tmsnrt.rs/2n0gd92 for graphic on Nuclear North Korea 

 

ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM

 

South Korea's acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, at a meeting with top officials on Thursday, repeatedly called for the military and security ministries to maintain vigilance.

 

South Korean presidential candidates clashed on Wednesday night in a TV debate over the planned U.S.-supplied Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system which has angered China, with frontrunner Moon Jae-in criticised for leaving his options open.

 

Hwang and Pence on Monday reaffirmed their plans to go ahead with the THAAD, but the decision will be up to the next Korean president. For its part, China says the system's powerful radar is a threat to its security.

 

The North has warned of a nuclear strike against the United States if provoked. It has said it has developed a missile that can strike the mainland United States, but officials and experts believe it is some time away from mastering the necessary technology, including miniaturising a nuclear warhead.

 

The United States and Russia clashed on Wednesday at the United Nations over a U.S.-drafted Security Council statement to condemn North Korea's latest failed ballistic missile test, to which diplomats said China had agreed. 

 

Such statements by the 15-member council have to be agreed by consensus. 

 

Previous statements denouncing earlier missile launches "welcomed efforts by council members, as well as other states, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue". The latest draft statement dropped "through dialogue" and Russia requested it be included again.

 

"When we requested to restore the agreed language that was of political importance and expressed commitment to continue to work on the draft ... the U.S. delegation without providing any explanations cancelled the work on the draft," the Russian U.N. mission said in a statement. 

 

There has been some confusion over the whereabouts of a U.S. aircraft carrier group after Trump said last week that he had sent an "armada" as a warning to North Korea even as the ships were still far from Korean waters.

 

The U.S. military's Pacific Command explained that the USS Carl Vinson strike group first had to complete a shorter-than-initially planned period of training with Australia. But it was now heading for the Western Pacific as ordered, it said.

 

North Korea did not refer to the mix-up but said the United States and its allies "should not mess with us".

 

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, did not mince its words in a commentary, saying North Korea was fully prepared for any U.S. attack.

 

"In the case of our super-mighty preemptive strike being launched, it will completely and immediately wipe out not only U.S. imperialists' invasion forces in South Korea and its surrounding areas but the U.S. mainland and reduce them to ashes."

 

Click http://tmsnrt.rs/2pqOMWA for graphic on The Carl Vinson strike group

 

(Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton in WASHINGTON, William James in LONDON, Michelle Nichols at the UNITED NATIONS and Idrees Ali in RIYADH; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-20

[darksidedog]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

North Korean state media warned the Americans of a "super-mighty preemptive strike",

Assuming of course it doesn't blow up on the launch pad like the last one. Be interesting to see Kim explain to his people why the nuke he sent to America took out half of his own country.

[sirmud63]

[englishinsiam]

I don't know why this buffoon isn't assassinated. Surely their is a top North Korean general who is willing to sacrifice his life to save the world from Kim Jong Un . The bloke is totally unhinged.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Sooo Upto Me]

59 minutes ago, englishinsiam said:

I don't know why this buffoon isn't assassinated. Surely their is a top North Korean general who is willing to sacrifice his life to save the world from Kim Jong Un . The bloke is totally unhinged.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 

Who we talking bout here?  Kim Jong Un or Trump?

[transam]

4 minutes ago, Sooo Upto Me said:

Who we talking bout here?  Kim Jong Un or Trump?

At least Trump is doing something before a mass of land will be taken out by a nutter....There is no second chance if a nuke hits anywhere near you....The Chinese should have dealt with the nut job.....Now others must try..

[lvr181]

"don't mess with us....." or I am going to:

 

 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

There are no good military options available. With more than 10 million south Koreans living within 60 km of the border the north Koreans don't need to use missles, their rockets can reach those people. Another fact that MSM is hiding from the people is that North Korea have a massive biological war warfare capability. There are also 86 tunnels identified on the border but only 2 exist have been found and blocked by south Korea. They have an extensive air defence system. Their armed forces have 900 000 permanent members and 8 million trained part time army. But the big problem is that a small attack by the US may trigger a massive response by the north. They could start an land attack which will draw in the US armed forces and when these forces are concentrated enough they can drop an atomic weapon, killing thousands of troops. The reason why China have not done anything is because North Korea is a buffer between them and the west and any US action may trigger a Chinese response. Another war the US can't win. 

Edited April 20, 2017 by SOUTHERNSTAR

[mettech]

This fat kid is in great demand for attention and these lunatics are the one to start a war trump and the fat kid.

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

North Korean state media warned the Americans of a "super-mighty preemptive strike", saying don't "mess with us".

Well it looks like North Korean state media warned the Americans of a "super-mighty preemptive strike", saying don't "mess with us". v.s.  Trump We have submarines, very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that I can tell you. Shovels and boots at the ready. 

[aslimversgwm]

In an interview on ITV (UK's biggest commercial TV channel) last week a recently retired British ambassador to North Korea said it is quite wrong to categorise Kim Jong-un  as mad, despite appearances to the contrary. The ambassador had met the North Korean president a number of times and found him to surprisingly urbane, intelligent and sane, but also recognised how ruthless he could be in ensuring the continuation of his family dynasty, at all costs.  That is Kim's sole interest - nothing else really matters.

Not someone to be underestimated or treated as a simple madman.

Perhaps the US president and his advisors should realise this and guard against overreacting to the supposed threat emanating from North Korea. 

[ResandePohm]

6 hours ago, sirmud63 said:

 

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

There are no good military options available. With more than 10 million south Koreans living within 60 km of the border the north Koreans don't need to use missles, their rockets can reach those people. Another fact that MSM is hiding from the people is that North Korea have a massive biological war warfare capability. There are also 86 tunnels identified on the border but only 2 exist have been found and blocked by south Korea. They have an extensive air defence system. Their armed forces have 900 000 permanent members and 8 million trained part time army. But the big problem is that a small attack by the US may trigger a massive response by the north. They could start an land attack which will draw in the US armed forces and when these forces are concentrated enough they can drop an atomic weapon, killing thousands of troops. The reason why China have not done anything is because North Korea is a buffer between them and the west and any US action may trigger a Chinese response. Another war the US can't win. 

Whatever other threats it may pose, North Korea's air force and it's army's ability to invade the south are laughably weak.  Biological warfare and nuclear capability are another matter entirely.

[sirmud63]

44 minutes ago, ResandePohm said:

 

 

[sirmud63]

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, aslimversgwm said:

but also recognised how ruthless he could be in ensuring the continuation of his family dynasty, at all costs.  That is Kim's sole interest - nothing else really matters.

I think Kim has come up against a like minded individual in Donald Trump. If it comes to blows well Kim's dynasty will be spread to the 4 winds. I liked your post in its entirety but there will be a point of no return maybe soon. You have 2 like minded ego's jockeying for world attention as well. I think Kim should play Kenny Rogers song from The Gambler sit down and talk to Trump take the shiploads of food and oil that will be offered. Both sides will save face and after a year Kim can make another trip to the well of goodwill. 

[transam]

2 hours ago, aslimversgwm said:

In an interview on ITV (UK's biggest commercial TV channel) last week a recently retired British ambassador to North Korea said it is quite wrong to categorise Kim Jong-un  as mad, despite appearances to the contrary. The ambassador had met the North Korean president a number of times and found him to surprisingly urbane, intelligent and sane, but also recognised how ruthless he could be in ensuring the continuation of his family dynasty, at all costs.  That is Kim's sole interest - nothing else really matters.

Not someone to be underestimated or treated as a simple madman.

Perhaps the US president and his advisors should realise this and guard against overreacting to the supposed threat emanating from North Korea. 

Would of thought a non nutter would just hang folk that feeeerked up instead of using weapons to shoot down planes to do the job....

[Guest]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Click http://tmsnrt.rs/2n0gd92 for graphic on Nuclear North Korea 

 

Beautiful and informative infographics by Reuters. Well done!

 

[billd766]

3 hours ago, ResandePohm said:

 

 

That image is really scary.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, sirmud63 said:

Quite true. I suppose many of us thought Putin was a great strategists with lots of wise advisors to help him.

 

Now we have been proven wrong. He is just a bully with IQ slightly higher than Trump. Putin can cope tactical situations, but not strategical. Putin is not a smart man and not a strategist.

[aslimversgwm]

19 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

I think Kim has come up against a like minded individual in Donald Trump. If it comes to blows well Kim's dynasty will be spread to the 4 winds. I liked your post in its entirety but there will be a point of no return maybe soon. You have 2 like minded ego's jockeying for world attention as well. I think Kim should play Kenny Rogers song from The Gambler sit down and talk to Trump take the shiploads of food and oil that will be offered. Both sides will save face and after a year Kim can make another trip to the well of goodwill. 

Agreed - but worrying times for sure for the reasons stated by others on this topic

[elgordo38]

Just now, aslimversgwm said:

Agreed - but worrying times for sure for the reasons stated by others on this topic

At our advanced age should be worried to the point of distraction? Hmm roll with the punches. 

[craigt3365]

On 04/20/2017 at 4:13 PM, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

There are no good military options available. With more than 10 million south Koreans living within 60 km of the border the north Koreans don't need to use missles, their rockets can reach those people. Another fact that MSM is hiding from the people is that North Korea have a massive biological war warfare capability. There are also 86 tunnels identified on the border but only 2 exist have been found and blocked by south Korea. They have an extensive air defence system. Their armed forces have 900 000 permanent members and 8 million trained part time army. But the big problem is that a small attack by the US may trigger a massive response by the north. They could start an land attack which will draw in the US armed forces and when these forces are concentrated enough they can drop an atomic weapon, killing thousands of troops. The reason why China have not done anything is because North Korea is a buffer between them and the west and any US action may trigger a Chinese response. Another war the US can't win. 

MSM does report about the biological weapons NK has. And how they've helped develop the same in Syria,  while profiting off it immensely.

 

https://qz.com/962995/the-war-in-syria-has-been-great-for-north-korea/

 

Quote

 

Since the 1960s, North Korea has sold arms and equipment to Syria, and provided other sorts of military-to-military assistance, such as training and technical assistance. Of particular importance, Pyongyang has helped develop Syria’s chemical weapons and ballistic missile programs.