Gates: N.Korea could be direct threat to US

Tell us something we don't know already.

Some people argue that NK isn't a threat.

I'm not one of those people.

A threat to who though? SK - yes. NA - not so much.

True, but in five years that's expected to change.

From the story... "He said North Korea will develop an inter-continental ballistic missile within 5 years. The missile could reach the US mainland."

True, but in five years that's expected to change.

From the story... "He said North Korea will develop an inter-continental ballistic missile within 5 years. The missile could reach the US mainland."

There's a lot that can happen in five years besides the upcoming regime change and the continued economic failure.

Besides, NK has not shown the political will to do more than have temper tantrums and the occasional shelling/torpedoing as long as the SK response was weak. As we saw with the last round of threats, NK backed down when SK refused to blink.

If the US wants to worry about someone, worry about the Chinese. NK is a sideshow.

History teaches that it is best to worry about a threat before it is too late.

True. It also teaches the consequences of worry about one that isn't really there -Iraq.

Let's assume what he says is comes to pass, that NK develops missiles to reach the US. What's the US going to do about it? Diddley Squat, because Kim Jong Puke was smart enough to get himself some nukes. And because in 5 years the US will be even more in the pocket of the Chinese. They would certainly not be able to launch a pre-emptive strike without Chinese permission, which doesn't seem forthcoming.

Iraq is one reason that every dickhead out there is trying to get some nukes of his own. Hussein would still be living a happy life if he'd just been smart enough to get some nukes before he started throwing his weight around.

Wise words, sir.

Excellent point. NK and Iraq have taught other states a lesson in US political will. Have nuke - remain untouched. Don't have nuke - get pummeled.

Wise words, sir.

I agree NK is just a punk side show, the real potential threat are the Chinese.

Wise words, sir.

I agree NK is just a punk side show, the real potential threat are the Chinese.

I suppose. As a liberal, I would say wouldn't it be a great idea to see if we could peacefully co-exist with China instead of recreating the cold war, but that's probably not a popular opinion these days.

Get along with each other? There's no money or fun in that at all. What are you, a communist or something?

The problem with that is that China wants to claim the Spratly Islands, they've laid claim to islands that belong to Japan, they've promised to annex Taiwan by force if they have to, they're threatening Vietnam, they've recently been building roads in India without permission from India, the last few years they've been sailing submarines in Japanese territorial waters, they've interdicted US ships and planes in international waters and airspace, they've been conducting cyberwarfare, claiming 20% of Canada's Arctic territory, and etc.

It'd be nice to peacefully coexist with them but they don't seem too interested in that, do they?