The Jokes about North Korea

North Korea is rattling sabers again, and most people think of it as some sort of absurd theater. The north has made some outrageous propaganda films. They are threatening missile strikes on the US, which all analysis's believe they lack the capability of doing.

I've listened to talking heads saying that the only time that anyone pays attention to North Korea is when they make threats. If they don't threaten anyone, they are ignored.

Here's a thought, what if they actually believe their own rhetoric? What damage could they really do? It could be very bad news for South Korea, and the American troops stationed in their country. The North has enough artillery and short range rockets to kill a lot of people and do a lot of damage. North Korea has a huge standing army. They can walk to South Korea, and probably use hidden tunnels to do it.

Don't forget that North Korea has successfully tested nuclear weapons. Most analysis's doubt they can mount one on a rocket. So what? They could put one in a shipping container and ship it to the US. Low tech methods can deliver a weapon.

We don't really know the ins and outs of North Korean politics. What would happen if they miscalculated and launched an invasion or an attack on the US? They'd get wiped out, of course, but that doesn't mean a lot of people won't die needlessly.

Nothing happens in isolation. Maybe China, seeing the US occupied, could decide it's a good time to invade Taiwan. With US forces stretched thin, they might get away with it. It doesn't have to be China. Other nations could use the confusion and US distraction for their own agendas.

Imagine what kind of shock an attack would be to world financial markets? Things are shaky already. How about world fuel supplies? Trade? Heck, while we are at it, through in a few natural disasters to shake things up more. There's no rule that the world has to deal with only one disaster at a time.

The odds of North Korea actually doing something might be low, but the consequences are very high indeed. At the very least, we should know better than to joke about it.

-Sixbears