What the hell is N. Korea Doing????

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-- What the hell is N. Korea Doing????

Posted by occrider on Mar-04-2003 16:06:

What the hell is N. Korea Doing????

quote:

U.S. to protest North Korea's 'higher-level provocation'
Fighters flew within 50 feet of Air Force surveillance jet
From John King, Barbara Starr, Mike Mount and Andrea Koppel
CNN
Monday, March 3, 2003 Posted: 9:28 PM EST (0228 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration plans to formally protest North Korea's actions during a weekend incident in which four North Korean jet fighters intercepted a U.S. surveillance plane over the Sea of Japan, officials said Monday.

The administration also said the incident could persuade China and Russia to be more open to U.S. requests to apply pressure on Pyongyang.

"As they look at the facts of what happened here, it will be hard for Russia and China not to conclude, 'OK, now North Korea has gone too far,'" a senior administration official told CNN.

Tension has been rising on the Korean Peninsula since North Korea disclosed in October that it had renewed efforts to develop nuclear weapons it swore off of in a 1994 agreement.

The official said the forum for lodging a formal protest had not been settled on, but that one possible method would be to communicate with North Korean diplomats at the United Nations. Japan and South Korea are being consulted on the best approach, that official and others said.

"There is no question this is a higher-level provocation than what we have been seeing," the senior official said. "This is a type of situation where one miscalculation and people lose their lives, and then there is the risk of some counter-response where more people can lose their lives."

U.S. military sources said Monday that the RC-135S surveillance aircraft was in international airspace about 150 miles [240 kilometers] off the Korean peninsula when four armed North Korean MiGs approached and flew alongside for 20 minutes, at some points coming within 50 feet of the U.S. plane. The Air Force plane returned to its base in Okinawa, Japan, without further incident.

One of the North Korean fighters locked its acquisition radar onto the RC-135S, a method used by fighter aircraft to locate another plane in the air, a Pentagon official said. At least two of the planes were MiG-29s. The two other fighters were thought to be MiG-23s.

Pentagon: Intercept took coordination
Pentagon officials say the encounter was obviously well-planned and premeditated because the MiGs have a relatively short range, so for them to fly 150 miles offshore, shadow the U.S. plane and still have fuel to get back would require a coordinated plan that pre-positioned the planes to make the intercept.

"This was obviously ordered by higher-ups," one Pentagon official said.

Pentagon officials were trying to interpret the North Koreans' action Monday.

One theory is that North Korea was trying to engage the United States in order to provoke a response, much as China did in April 2001, when one of its fighter jets collided with an American EP-3 spy plane over international waters.

"They saw what the Chinese did with the EP-3," one senior administration official said.

The North Korean incident was "very deliberate," according to that official.

"If they get the U.S. to fire on them, that's 'proof' an invasion is right around the corner," he said.

Whatever the motivation, U.S. officials agree that the incident shows Pyongyang is taking "bigger and bigger risks."

The RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft is a modified version of the military C-135S cargo plane, which is based on Boeing's 707 commercial airliner. The aircraft are used to monitor areas where missiles are tested.

Last week, North Korea fired a short-range missile at sea during naval exercises, and Friday, Japanese newspapers reported that Pyongyang had tested a rocket booster for its Taepo Dong ballistic missiles at a launch site on the country's east coast in January.

In 1998, North Korea test-fired a missile that flew over Japan, raising tensions in the region.

Sunday's incident marked the first time in more than 30 years that North Korean aircraft have intercepted a U.S. plane, the sources said.

The previous interception occurred in 1969, when a North Korean fighter shot down a U.S. EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Japan, killing more than 30 U.S. airmen, according to a Pentagon official.

I just don't get it ... what are they trying to accomplish with this kind of provocation??? Only bad things can happen from risky moves such as this.

Posted by Cyrus King on Mar-05-2003 06:38:

I think they are trying to say that "you think you can bully the world.... well.. were going to bully you!"

Its more of a political statement to the world they are trying to make

Posted by LiquidX on Mar-05-2003 11:11:

I think that N.Korea is trying to show the U.S. that they are not scared of the U.S. and their military machine..

Posted by shlomo_hamalech on Mar-05-2003 16:00:

i think

I think the communist N. Koreans are about to start a fight they will lose, but bring down many with them!!!!

Posted by occrider on Mar-05-2003 17:58:

quote:
Originally posted by Cyrus King
I think they are trying to say that "you think you can bully the world.... well.. were going to bully you!"

Its more of a political statement to the world they are trying to make

No it's not a political statement ... you don't screw around with something like this. Not when it comes to military confrontations. It's very easy for things to go wrong and if they do that can lead to VERY disastrous circumstances. I gauruntee you this is not a solution to anything. And I doubt the koreans are trying to make a statement to the world ... the only ones they care about are themselves. This behaviour is reckless to the point of suicidal. Two countries with nuclear weapons do NOT engage in provocative military confrontations. If that plane had been shot down Bush will be FORCED to respond militarily. What are the N. Koreans gonna do when that happens? This is reminiscent of cold war tactics and it's plain stupid.

Posted by shlomo_hamalech on Mar-05-2003 20:53:

its wierd but...

It's wierd but I agree with Occrider again!!!

The world is dangerous a new scale now!!! N. Korea is doing something a little scary, but as Occrider said, it looks like cold war style... The place and scenario is fresh though... so we will see what happens. This is definetly the wrong time for something like this to happen :P we have enough problems in this world already right now!!!!!

Shlomo Eliyahu

Posted by montie on Mar-05-2003 23:58:

Re: its wierd but...

quote:
Originally posted by shlomo_hamalech
It's wierd but I agree with Occrider again!!!

The world is dangerous a new scale now!!! N. Korea is doing something a little scary, but as Occrider said, it looks like cold war style... The place and scenario is fresh though... so we will see what happens. This is definetly the wrong time for something like this to happen :P we have enough problems in this world already right now!!!!!

Shlomo Eliyahu

It is the wrong time for this to happen, but it is happening because it is the wrong time.
N. Korea is taking advantage of the situation we are in with Iraq to start to flex it's muscle and try to push the US around.

A war with Korea would be absolutly horrible.

Posted by Vanilla on Mar-06-2003 00:01:

First off it was a spy plane. It's not like the US has the absolute RIGHT to control the world and expect their enemies to just follow along quietly. If you get caught spying, that's your fuckup, not theirs.
Secondly, being a spy plane, it should have been flying high enough that it wouldnt have been intercepted anyway.
and Lastly, what's wrong with the surveilance satelites that the us has? Surely with the technology that can see anything as small as 12" why would the spy planes even be used anymore? Does the Us have to count how many bullets the Koreans have?

Posted by montie on Mar-06-2003 00:17:

quote:
Originally posted by Vanilla
First off it was a spy plane. It's not like the US has the absolute RIGHT to control the world and expect their enemies to just follow along quietly. If you get caught spying, that's your fuckup, not theirs.
Secondly, being a spy plane, it should have been flying high enough that it wouldnt have been intercepted anyway.
and Lastly, what's wrong with the surveilance satelites that the us has? Surely with the technology that can see anything as small as 12" why would the spy planes even be used anymore? Does the Us have to count how many bullets the Koreans have?

The plane wasn't a high altitude spy plane.
In fact i think its just a modified cargo plain.
And it was flying over international waters.

Posted by occrider on Mar-06-2003 00:52:

quote:
Originally posted by montie
The plane wasn't a high altitude spy plane.
In fact i think its just a modified cargo plain.
And it was flying over international waters.

Correct. IT's a plane designed to pick up radio waves and communications. And the Koreans would have a right to do what it did if it was flying over Korean airspace. But it was over international waters. Korea can do whatever the hell it wants to do next to our borders as long as it's in international territory.

Posted by shlomo_hamalech on Mar-06-2003 17:10:

i can see why you guys would be angry with America for trying to be the world big brother.. But lets be honest, America won't just start blowing up countries it is not in its interest. America wants the world to be safe from problems so everyone can focus on money!

Thats the way it is... cause i mean the world doesn revolve around money no? I wish it revolved around kindness and good deeds... then everyone would be happy

SHLOMO

Posted by Nige| on Mar-07-2003 12:46:

Posted by Etherium on Mar-10-2003 06:06:

What is with North Korea saying that the US is plotting an attack against them? Is this a cry for attention or is there any legitimacy to what they are saying?

Posted by ProDiGaL on Mar-10-2003 10:16:

i wonder if n.korea is next in line of georges purging of weapons of mass destruction, highly unlikely, like all bullies he'll push around who he can......ahh LOL the irony is too much

Posted by LiquidX on Mar-10-2003 11:16:

- Now N. Korea is A BIGGER threat then Iraq, they got, or will have 2 nuke weapons, one or both are CAPABLE or FEARED to hi the US, and this crazy guy can do it.. I heard that the US will give up on N. Korea and let them be a Nuclear power, cause the US does not want to mess with them. But, since N.Korea is in need of money, they could easily sell their nuclear weapons... so why is the US still giving more attention to IRAQ instead? while N.Korea is about to blackmail US? huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Posted by occrider on Mar-10-2003 14:20:

quote:
Originally posted by LiquidX
- Now N. Korea is A BIGGER threat then Iraq, they got, or will have 2 nuke weapons, one or both are CAPABLE or FEARED to hi the US, and this crazy guy can do it.. I heard that the US will give up on N. Korea and let them be a Nuclear power, cause the US does not want to mess with them. But, since N.Korea is in need of money, they could easily sell their nuclear weapons... so why is the US still giving more attention to IRAQ instead? while N.Korea is about to blackmail US? huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

See previous postings regarding Iraq vs. N Korea. Just because Korea is a growing threat doesn't mean we should drop everything we're working on with Iraq. Also N. Korea is not restricted in any way from obtaining or developing nuclear weapons since they are no longer a member of the nuclear non proliferation treaty. There is merely a cease-fire treaty in place that does not place restrictions on weapons development or military buildup, it only makes the DMZ demilitarized. So it's not like the US can use force to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. Iraq on the other hand IS treaty obligated and therefore a resumption of a state of war can come into effect if tehy fail to oblige by their promises.

Posted by ProDiGaL on Mar-10-2003 23:26:

Posted by LiquidX on Mar-11-2003 02:23:

quote:
Originally posted by occrider
See previous postings regarding Iraq vs. N Korea. Just because Korea is a growing threat doesn't mean we should drop everything we're working on with Iraq. Also N. Korea is not restricted in any way from obtaining or developing nuclear weapons since they are no longer a member of the nuclear non proliferation treaty. There is merely a cease-fire treaty in place that does not place restrictions on weapons development or military buildup, it only makes the DMZ demilitarized. So it's not like the US can use force to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. Iraq on the other hand IS treaty obligated and therefore a resumption of a state of war can come into effect if tehy fail to oblige by their promises.

- I did see the previous postings, and yes I thought just as you, but things change every day. North Korea was restricted, but, they got out of that non proliferation treaty of which you talked about. Now, im not sure of if they are out of that treaty, it gives them the right to build nuke weapons?? I thought that N.Korea was NOT allowed of building Nuke Weapons, even if out of the treaty? I could be wrong. The truth is, in the long term, if we let N.Korea build its nukes, they will have the whole region threatened, even the US. And I take that as MORE FEAR to which we will be leaving under. That N.Korea guy is a straight WAKO! MANIAC! CRAZY! now thats CRAZY! I mean, he plays around by throwing missiles close to Japan, threatning that US ( SPY PLANE? ) .. mmmmm they need the money, so they might as well sell the nuke to terrorists as well, and those NUKES are no SAMOUD 2 missils eehhhh...

Posted by occrider on Mar-11-2003 02:40:

quote:
Originally posted by LiquidX
- I did see the previous postings, and yes I thought just as you, but things change every day. North Korea was restricted, but, they got out of that non proliferation treaty of which you talked about. Now, im not sure of if they are out of that treaty, it gives them the right to build nuke weapons?? I thought that N.Korea was NOT allowed of building Nuke Weapons, even if out of the treaty? I could be wrong. The truth is, in the long term, if we let N.Korea build its nukes, they will have the whole region threatened, even the US. And I take that as MORE FEAR to which we will be leaving under. That N.Korea guy is a straight WAKO! MANIAC! CRAZY! now thats CRAZY! I mean, he plays around by throwing missiles close to Japan, threatning that US ( SPY PLANE? ) .. mmmmm they need the money, so they might as well sell the nuke to terrorists as well, and those NUKES are no SAMOUD 2 missils eehhhh...

There are no UN restrictions or US treaty restrictions on N. Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Hehe otherwise there wouldn't be a point to them being a part of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty right? Anyway I'm not trying to blow them off as a threat. I most certainly think they are one. But what kind of action can the US take to stop them? Invade? Nuke them first? These are all infeasible scenarios because the continent would plunge into a WW3 or nuclear holocaust scenario ... that conflict MUST be solved diplomatically. Eventually I believe it will because N. Korea is too cash strapped to continue its actions. I'm sure our intelligence services are watching their actions CLOSELY and any kind of weapons sales are monitored closely. Much like those missiles to Quatar were tracked ... I'm sure every shipment comes under close scrutiny. I know people are going to say its unfair that Iraq is facing military intervention because it doesn't have the weapons to effectively destroy the region but the policy of disarmament is about prevention. It's so another N. Korea situation doesn't develop in the middle east. Hell even I agree that it's unfair but think about it this way ... Korea has maintained borders and boundaries for over 50 years ... In the past two decades alone Iraq has engaged in two wars.

I too would like to see more time given to inspectors but I don't agree with the statement that we should drop Iraq as a topic just bbecause n. korea is showing some muscle.

Posted by LiquidX on Mar-11-2003 02:45:

- I think that Iraq should remain under pressure, but we are talking about a country that its feared to be Nuclear power, and then the US wont be able to do anything. Like I said, they could sell easily those weapons to US enemies, which I think its a more assure threat for the US. What I do think is to atleast give more attention to N.Korea, I dont know, some direct talks or something????.. I mean, they have to be stopped someway or it will be too late. Its freaking nuke weapons here hehehehehe

Posted by occrider on Mar-11-2003 02:47:

quote:
Originally posted by LiquidX
- I think that Iraq should remain under pressure, but we are talking about a country that its feared to be Nuclear power, and then the US wont be able to do anything. Like I said, they could sell easily those weapons to US enemies, which I think its a more assure threat for the US. What I do think is to atleast give more attention to N.Korea, I dont know, some direct talks or something????.. I mean, they have to be stopped someway or it will be too late. Its freaking nuke weapons here hehehehehe

Very well ... I think that we have both have come to the conclusion and agree that more should be done with N. Korea! Hehe it was one of the reasons why I first started this thread. No rest for the weary eh?