Obama reminds North Korea of U.S. 'military might'
74 replies, posted
[QUOTE](Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Saturday the United States did not use its military might to "impose things" on others, but that it would use that might if necessary to defend South Korea from any attack by the reclusive North.
The North warned last month it would not rule out a "new form" of atomic test after the U.N. Security Council condemned Pyongyang's launch of a mid-range ballistic missile into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.
Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye presented a united front against North Korea at a joint news conference following their summit on Friday, warning that they would respond firmly to any "provocations" by Pyongyang which routinely threatens the United States and South Korea with destruction.
"We don't use our military might to impose these things on others, but we will not hesitate to use our military might to defend our allies and our way of life," Obama told cheering U.S. forces at the Yongsan garrison on a sunny spring morning.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/26/us-korea-north-usa-idUSBREA3P02U20140426[/url]
[quote=The Article]President Barack Obama said on Saturday the United States did not use its military might to "impose things" on others[/quote]
Sure, guy. Sure.
Does he really need that?
I am almost completely sure that NK can't do a single thing agaisnt anyone other than its own civilians.
To be fair, "impose things" is rather vague (presumably intentionally).
You could argue that by merely having the largest, most expensive military in the world we are "imposing things" on other countries simply because no other country could hope to mount an effective campaign against US forces.
On the other hand, we certainly do "impose things" on other countries through various other avenues. Mostly diplomacy, which is backed by one of the world's largest economic and cultural (and military) powers.
So, indirectly, we absolutely impose things on other countries (sometimes with our military). Directly... well, that's up for debate.
[QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;44653362]Does he really need that?
I am almost completely sure that NK can't do a single thing agaisnt anyone other than its own civilians.[/QUOTE]
North Korea could definitely take over South Korea if no outsiders intervened. Their technology may be outclassed by most nations, but their military is pretty large.
[editline]26th April 2014[/editline]
They're like the fat kid of the playground. Sure, they're not going anywhere and they like to act tough, but you still wouldn't want to start a fight without backup unless you're pretty tough.
That said, the USA, China or Russia would all embarrass North Korea in a straight up fight.
[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;44653644]North Korea could definitely take over South Korea if no outsiders intervened. Their technology may be outclassed by most nations, but their military is pretty large.
[editline]26th April 2014[/editline]
They're like the fat kid of the playground. Sure, they're not going anywhere and they like to act tough, but you still wouldn't want to start a fight without backup unless you're pretty tough.
That said, the USA, China or Russia would all embarrass North Korea in a straight up fight.[/QUOTE]
Big hole in that.
South Korea's armed forces arent starving and have the technology advantage.
[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;44653644]North Korea could definitely take over South Korea if no outsiders intervened. Their technology may be outclassed by most nations, but their military is pretty large.
[editline]26th April 2014[/editline]
They're like the fat kid of the playground. Sure, they're not going anywhere and they like to act tough, but you still wouldn't want to start a fight without backup unless you're pretty tough.
That said, the USA, China or Russia would all embarrass North Korea in a straight up fight.[/QUOTE]
Take over south korea? I very much doubt that.
South Korea would stop North Korea in it's tracks.
I seriously doubt anything North Korea had could protect them from any sustained air attacks from South Korea.
[QUOTE=DeathDoom;44653395]To be fair, "impose things" is rather vague (presumably intentionally).
You could argue that by merely having the largest, most expensive military in the world we are "imposing things" on other countries simply because no other country could hope to mount an effective campaign against US forces.
On the other hand, we certainly do "impose things" on other countries through various other avenues. Mostly diplomacy, which is backed by one of the world's largest economic and cultural (and military) powers.
So, indirectly, we absolutely impose things on other countries (sometimes with our military). Directly... well, that's up for debate.[/QUOTE]
Technically speaking, we do have a very advanced army.
[QUOTE=Thomo_UK;44653787]Take over south korea? I very much doubt that.
South Korea would stop North Korea in it's tracks.
I seriously doubt anything North Korea had could protect them from any sustained air attacks from South Korea.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about South Korea is the location of Seoul. It's so close to the border that North Korea can strike it with artillery, and it's pretty much a given fact the entire city will be demolished within a couple hours from the outbreak of a war.
The war would probably initiate as a Northern invasion of the south. They'd start off with such a massive advantage against the South that I don't know how the ROK could make an effective comeback without support from the United States and Japan.
[QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;44653362]Does he really need that?
I am almost completely sure that NK can't do a single thing agaisnt anyone other than its own civilians.[/QUOTE]
They have a huge amount of conventional artillery. Enough to heavily damage Seoul for instance.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;44654000]They have a huge amount of conventional artillery. Enough to heavily damage Seoul for instance.[/QUOTE]It was discussed last year when North Korea was last acting up, but only parts of Seoul are actually in range, and the actually amount of damage they could do with their limited time frame is minimal. It wouldn't be good, but Seoul would weather it fine.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;44654106]It was discussed last year when North Korea was last acting up, but only parts of Seoul are actually in range, and the actually amount of damage they could do with their limited time frame is minimal. It wouldn't be good, but Seoul would weather it fine.[/QUOTE]
And we know from the Yeonpyeong Island attack that SK knows exactly where most of NK's artillery positions are, as they responded almost immediately.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;44654000]They have a huge amount of conventional artillery. Enough to heavily damage Seoul for instance.[/QUOTE]
Most if their artillery isn't in range though.
The missile batteries though...
[QUOTE=Psychokitten;44654218]Most if their artillery isn't in range though.
The missile batteries though...[/QUOTE]
I thought they've constantly bragged about having artillery aimed at Seoul. Granted they're known for flat out bluffing but I'd assume they at least believe enough of their own guff to actually position a few pea shooters as such
North Korea would lose a war with Medieval France.
America, fuck yeah!
Obama, you have more pressing issues than dealing with North Korea. Just let them do their own thing and they'll not bother you back.
[QUOTE=pentium;44654465]Obama, you have more pressing issues than dealing with North Korea. Just let them do their own thing and they'll not bother you back.[/QUOTE]
He was in South Korea on a planned trip to Asia, talking to our troops in SK... what did you want him to talk about?
[QUOTE=outlawpickle;44654474]He was in South Korea on a planned trip to Asia, talking to our troops in SK... what did you want him to talk about?[/QUOTE]
Trade, of course. What else do political figures do abroad besides wave cocks around and bitch about people who they are not allies with?
[QUOTE=pentium;44655138]Trade, of course. What else do political figures do abroad besides wave cocks around and bitch about people who they are not allies with?[/QUOTE]
He did exactly what I would expect him to do in a country where we have thousands of troops stationed, talked to them and gave them something to cheer about. Amazing concept for a Commander in Chief.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;44654413]North Korea would lose a war with Medieval France.[/QUOTE]
It's the fact that the DPRK has Seoul held hostage with batteries of artillery and rocket weaponry that would level the city in a matter of hours.
It's not the nuclear capability, it's not the wave of men that would be tossed at the south, it's not the psychotic brainwashed infantrymen, it's the gun that's pointed directly at the RoK's head. We'd have to strike those sites immediately, or plaster Seoul in CIWS systems on every street corner.
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;44655314]It's the fact that the DPRK has Seoul held hostage with batteries of artillery and rocket weaponry that would level the city in a matter of hours.
It's not the nuclear capability, it's not the wave of men that would be tossed at the south, it's not the psychotic brainwashed infantrymen, it's the gun that's pointed directly at the RoK's head. We'd have to strike those sites immediately, or plaster Seoul in CIWS systems on every street corner.[/QUOTE]
It's not "held hostage" in any significant sense of the word.
People really overestimate North Korea's ability to maintain a fight, they could not sustain an advance for long, they would be destroyed in less than a day.
[QUOTE=SexualShark;44653754]Big hole in that.
South Korea's armed forces arent starving and have the technology advantage.[/QUOTE]
Sure enough, But North Korea has numbers and a lot of them. North Korea would just throw bodies at the South Korean armed forces, regardless of the causality rate. Their Army and civilian population would be willing to throw away their lives and die for the 'great honorable leader'. Technology is a major help but it can't defend against a absolute brute force attack forever.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;44654413]North Korea would lose a war with Medieval France.[/QUOTE]
Well Medieval France took over England, soooo...
[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;44653644]North Korea could definitely take over South Korea if no outsiders intervened. Their technology may be outclassed by most nations, but their military is pretty large.
[editline]26th April 2014[/editline]
They're like the fat kid of the playground. Sure, they're not going anywhere and they like to act tough, but you still wouldn't want to start a fight without backup unless you're pretty tough.
That said, the USA, China or Russia would all embarrass North Korea in a straight up fight.[/QUOTE]
At the moment, yeah, they're a little below 3 times larger, but South Korea has an insane tech advantage, and a manpower advantage too, if there's an all-out war South Korea can really boost its military's numbers, but North Korea already has like almost half their population in the military.
[QUOTE=Michael haxz;44655584]Sure enough, But North Korea has numbers and a lot of them. North Korea would just throw bodies at the South Korean armed forces, regardless of the causality rate. Their Army and civilian population would be willing to throw away their lives and die for the 'great honorable leader'. Technology is a major help but it can't defend against a absolute brute force attack forever.[/QUOTE]
Numbers don't mean much of anything when you're fighting a better trained and better equipped force. Or to quote Col. Beckwith, "I'd rather go down the river with seven studs than with a hundred shitheads."
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