The North Korean Threat

Considering this issue could potentially lead to the ultimate decimation of the United States, I figured the least I can do is jot a few words down regarding my thoughts.  The fact that I would even have to convince another American of the clear and present danger North Korea poses shows what a sad state our nation is in.

Let us bullet point the danger posed by North Korea (these are not in any particular order):

• North Korea has nuclear weapons capable of reaching American allies and military bases at the minimum, if not the western coast of the United States.  They have also successfully launched observation satellites.
• Kim Jong-un is an unpredictable megalomaniac.  To speculate on the propensity for him to demonstrate any logic or practicality in his behavior is a waste of time.
• The mere possibility of North Korea supplying terrorists, Jihadists, and/or other rogue nations with Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) should scare the Hell out of all Americans (and the rest of the West).

Let’s look at the first point.  The danger posed by Kim Jong-un possessing nuclear weapons should concern all Americans.  At this point I can’t help but think half of American’s are either oblivious of the threat or are so wrapped up in other concerns, they are too busy to be troubled with what they consider an exaggerated threat.  

The reality of the situation is our nation has been in a similar conundrum in the past.  However, it can be argued that at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, neither Khrushchev nor Castro were nearly as unstable as Kim Jong-un.  Despite the fact American’s are obviously faced with an enemy leader no less maniacal than Hitler or Stalin, many in power still contend Russian President Putin is the greater threat.

Regarding the second point: Kim Jong-un has demonstrated he is unpredictable at best and malicious at worst.  His mind is warped from decades of having been told that everything he ever did was great and all his people love him (despite all the suffering of the average North Korean; which he is either oblivious or insensitive to).  Granted, my expertise in psycho-analysis is limited.  Regardless, American leaders better regard Kim Jong-un as potentially the most unhinged leader in the world, if we are to adequately counter the threat he poses.

Third point: the likelihood of North Korea sending a nuclear strike against the United States is probably minor (though it should be regarded as probable for the sake of national security).  However, the prospect of Kim Jong-un providing WMD to Jihadists is more concerning.  I shouldn’t have to detail for you the disturbing thought of a group like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, or Hezbollah having even the most meager of nuclear weapons at their disposal.

Now let me bullet point some of the steps (and the attitude) the United States could and should take in neutralizing the North Korean threat.  The sequence of these can be flexible, depending on China and North Korea’s actions:

• Forget the United Nations: there’s a reason countless sanctions have been ineffective against North Korea and it is only half due to the fact China is on the Security Council.  If the U.N. wants to pass sanctions against the United States for taking action against North Korea, best of luck to them.
• Forget China: China is not likely to take military action against the United States.  They have too much to lose economically from such a prospect.  China is also not likely to take major economic action.  The United States is China’s biggest customer.  Approximately 18% of Chinese exports go to the U.S. (about 4.5% goes to South Korea).  If they cut us off, their economy crashes just as much as ours, and probably more so.  It’s unlikely they would be willing to risk World War 3 for a little pissant like Kim Jong-un.
• Destroy Kwangmyŏngsŏng 4, North Korea’s observation satellite.  North Korea cannot be trusted with such a device and any capability it may have in launching an EMP attack against the United States should be immediately negated.  The U.S. may even be able to make it look like an “accident” if it so chooses.
• Impose a naval blockade against North Korea.  The entire U.S. Pacific Fleet, consisting of the Third and Seventh Fleets, should be dispatched to the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.  This will likely lead to war and so be it.
• Initiate focused cyber-attacks on North Korea’s missile systems and space program.
• Send an ultimatum to North Korea: 1) dismantle all nuclear and space programs and equipment, 2) allow U.S. inspectors into North Korea (U.N. inspectors can go pound sand), 3) (optional) force Kim Jong-un to forfeit all power.
• If Kim Jong-un fails to accept the terms of the ultimatum; the U.S. should consider a massive pre-emptive air strike, preceded/supported by naval launched cruise missiles, that would put Operation Focus to shame (“Focus” was the IAF’s 1967 air strike against the Arab air forces).  Primary targets should be missile launch sites, major air bases, and artillery in range of Seoul.

One only has to study the post World War 2 history of North Korea, and Kim Jong-un’s sabre-rattling, to understand the direction this situation is moving.  The problem has been repeatedly ignored by previous administrations.  Unfortunately, by ignoring the problem and placating China, North Korea is now in a position to potentially kill many Americans.  This is unacceptable.  The farce of the United Nations is palpable when you consider how many Americans (over 36,000)  and South Koreans (over half a million) died in the Korean War, yet 64 years later the North Korean leader technically has the power to start a nuclear war.

Why has the United States allowed this to happen?  The reason is a combination of fear and aloofness.  In the past few decades China has continually warned Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. not to interfere in North Korean activities (such as the launching of Kwangmyŏngsŏng 4).  All three have been all too willing to oblige.  The U.N. repeatedly writes nasty letters regarding North Korea’s rogue behaviour; which China and North Korea both laugh at.  Yet the feeling among the U.N. (and even popular within the U.S.) is that Western powers must not do anything to upset China or North Korea.  What do China and North Korea learn from this?… they can do whatever they want and the West will do nothing but send empty threats, condemnation, and vague critique.  The West seems unwilling to do anything that could potentially lead to war; even if that means putting itself at risk of being attacked.

For the first time in years the West may have a leader that is willing to send more than just ineffectual statements to North Korea.  President Trump has unfortunately inherited this problem from the past several administrations.  Maybe President Trump understands a concept previous presidents either failed to understand or plainly ignored; the U.S. should not put it’s own citizens at risk for the sake of appearing as a peace-loving nation.  Maybe he feels it’s wrong that so many proponents of nuclear disarmament, who vilify the U.S. for using atomic weapons in the Second World War, are the same people who seem to give North Korea a “pass” on this issue.

North Korea doesn’t just have the largest military institution in the world for the heck of it.  It does not have a nuclear and space program just for fun.  However, Kim Jong-un has done the U.S. one tremendous favor; he has not hidden his intentions.  If North Korea were to attack the United States or South Korea, Americans could not honestly claim to be surprised; as opposed to the surprise Americans felt on December 7th, 1941.  Nevertheless, the U.S. has chosen to pursue a RE-active stance to the problem, thus far.  It seems to be hedging it’s bets on the hopeful occurrence of some random event which will prevent this rogue nation from bringing war; perhaps a coup or the sudden death of Kim Jong-un and subsequent replacement by a much nicer North Korean leader.

Ask yourself these questions: Is this reactive stance what Americans really want?  Are Americans really willing to rely on China to control North Korea and hope that the latter doesn’t do anything that leads to American deaths?  Why all the resistance among so many Americans to be PRO-active?  Do people really believe it is acceptable for Americans, South Koreans, and/or Japanese to die first; out of some misplaced belief that the U.S. should not appear as an aggressor?  

It is obvious many Westerners are in denial over the fact that War is politics by other means.

The U.S. cannot rely on North Korean inaction based on the theory of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).  MAD relies on a certain level of rational thinking on both sides of the conflict.  Kim Jong-un has not demonstrated a history of rational behavior, and simply hoping he is suddenly struck with rational thinking is not an acceptable strategy.  Moreover, MAD theory is undermined when one power is potentially reckless enough to share it’s WMD with terrorist groups.  

Let’s face it: casualties are coming sooner or later.  Would we rather have fewer casualties now, or a lot more later?  If only more Americans summoned the same enthusiasm to hate Kim Jong-un that they seem to feel for their own President.  It’s a sad state of affairs when so many Americans compare President Trump to Adolf Hitler while there is currently a living breathing version of Hitler leading the nation of North Korea and clearly threatening the United States.  We can only hope Americans will not pay for underestimating this threat.

~AD