The haves launched a rocket that entered space and now have a satellite up there. Does this concern anyone else?

 

we have nukes and drones.

 

They are like 30 years behind in military technology. No I am not worried. Any missle they sent our way would be detected and shot down well before it was a threat.

 

How about Japan or some South Eastern Asian country friendly with the USA that might be in range? This kind of stuff is completely outside of my area of expertise or familiarity.

 

The US has no friends.

 

Anyone that is actually ally of the US has the backing of the US military in most cases if they come under attack. I wager just the threat of US intervention would keep a country like North Korea from launching an attack on one of our allies.

 

unless isreal.

 

That is a whole other political scenario. Although I believe if Isreal came under heavy assault that really threatened their borders the US would intervene. The fact is right now we have a president who ran on an anti-war platform and would rather genocide occur in Syria and let Isreal fend for itself than deal with political backlash from military action, especially in the Middle East. Even though this will more than likely result in increased aggression as this approach makes the US seem like it is backing down and "weak".

 

China will never allow NK to do anything that has actual consequences. Fear not.

 

Agreed, those are paying customers of Chinese goods NK threatens AND US has bases located in Japan and South Korea and would no doubt view such an act as a threat of war.
A campaign today would NOT be like the Korean Conflict our grandfather's fought. The people are very brainwashed now, but starved, and on the brink of breaking. Furthermore, there will be no Chinese soldiers fighting for them.

However, that doesn't mean China wouldn't continue to sell them weapons.

 

I've often wondered what would happen, in the context of the present day status-quo, if a sovereign state actually did commit a proper act of aggression against the US or one of its de-facto protectorates. I don't mean "Palestine fires a couple of rockets at Jerusalem" or "Someone hijacks a plane and crashes it into a building," I'm talking about a proper "North Korea invades South Korea" act of war.

This Pax Americana can't last forever. It's nice to think that "they'd never be crazy enough to do X," but Germany invaded Poland and Japan attacked Hawaii. It's happened before, and it will happen again.

 

I feel as though the conclusion is rather obvious. If a serious action was taken as you mentioned it would lead to full on war and I have no doubt that the United States would get involved. I am sure we would not just jump right in and there would be some political footwork but the end result would be war. Depending on the initiating event and the parties involved it could lead to another world war of sorts.

 

I don't think it would be a world war. To have another world war, you need big allies on both sides. Korea has none. Communist China of today is NOT the same as Communist China of the 50s. It's the same for Russia. China has far more in common with Korea's friends than Korea itself. China may diplomatically try to intervene and keep their little cousin out of trouble. But, an all out act of aggression by Korea would leave Korea standing by itself this time.

Now, if someone like Japan were to invade North Korea, I could see China getting involved. They have a big bone to pick still with Japan and have not forgotten the Great Rape of China. I believe Korea knows this and it's why they point missiles at JDMland.

 

I can't see Japan attacking anybody. In the 1940s it was a different story, but today, Japan has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Something *extremely* dramatic would have to happen (eg: total oil embargo) to push Japan into an aggressive posture.

Ditto pretty much every nation in Europe. They, like the US, are too highly dependent on foreign trade to upset the status quo, and want for nothing which they cannot either purchase or wrangle out of the EU as a whole.

Belligerent countries are those which are both economically isolated and also poor in one or more desirable commodities. Many nations in Africa and southern Asia fit this profile, including North Korea.

 

From the perspective of a non american, it seems joe and brain are spot on 1000% correct here.

Dann

 

I highlighted the important parts of Joe's post. The more economically connected countries are they less likely they are to goto war, because the costs end up being to damn high.

 

It would be a shame if something was to happen to the satellite up there eh?

Perhaps they will also paint their crap light blue?

Hmm apperently its already broken hahahah
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/12...e-could-orbit/