NK's very rich mineral-wise (6trillion estimated), but you have to factor in a massive ground war, the chance of getting your troops nuked, occupation and then on top of it all, having to build an infrastructure expansive enough to remove those 6tril worth of resources since NK has little in place as is.
Just not worth it. Maybe to China, since they're essentially 'next door', have millions of laborers and couldn't give two wet shits what the UN says. But China could mine NK without having to go to war.
Originally posted by jaden101
The only chance of the US going to war with North Korea is if NK has some resource the US wants. Given their main resource is coal then it's not likely.
Resources would have nothing to do with it.
Originally posted by AncientPowerYou could say that for a lot of countries, some of them being our allies.
On a more serious note, I think a war on North Korea has to happen. Reason being that millions upon millions of people in that country are severely oppressed starving people that need very serious help.
Originally posted by AncientPowerWith ease? I find that unlikely unless they were aware of an impending invasion and had time to prepare. The North has a huge army and could probably overwhelm the South's forces initially.
South Korea handles ground war with ease, the North has no fuel. Nukes are an issue, if Kim can make reliable ones and even then only if Park is too proud to accept Japanese missile defense aid.
And aren't there rumors the North have some underground invasion tunnels or some shit?
Originally posted by Omega Vision
Don't be daft. There is always the chance that North Korea and South Korea will go to war, and in that case America would get involved.Resources would have nothing to do with it.
Not militarily it wouldn't. And it's not like they can employ the same tactic of sanctions like they did with Russia over Ukraine and Georgia.
The closest the US would get is 'advisors' and equipment for the south.
Regardless, there's virtually no chance of the north and south going to war. It's all posturing by the north to keep their people in line. Their economy is 28% reliant on trade with the south. Going to war would wreck themselves.
Originally posted by AncientPower
The above implies Pyongyang concedes to logic, an immense assumption on your part.
The regime's main concern is keeping itself in power and its citizens subjugated. It simply won't do anything to endanger that. They portray themselves as enemies of their southern neighbours yet have huge trade agreements with them. The posturing allows them to portray a different image to their own people than the reality. Much like when they broadcast to their people that their football team won the world cup or that Kim Jong il shot a 38 round at golf that included 5 holes in 1 on his 1st attempt at playing.
Originally posted by jaden101
Not militarily it wouldn't.
And it's not like they can employ the same tactic of sanctions like they did with Russia over Ukraine and Georgia.
The closest the US would get is 'advisors' and equipment for the south.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_Korea
Regardless, there's virtually no chance of the north and south going to war. It's all posturing by the north to keep their people in line. Their economy is 28% reliant on trade with the south. Going to war would wreck themselves.
Originally posted by Star428
The US military (mainly, the Navy) frequently practices combat training readiness drills with the South Koreans. I think it's highly likely that if the N and S Koreans ever go at it then the American military will play a large role in it. Even if it's only the Navy that gets involved.
Originally posted by Omega VisionUmm...tell that to the 28,500 US personnel (that's what, 1/3 the size of the entire British army?) already in South Korea, constantly drilling to repel a North Korean attack. You think those guys are there just for show? You think they'd get yanked out the second the North Korean tanks showed up?
Actually yes I do. Given that the US has a very recent history (2 days ago) history of abandoning 'key allies'(in this case, Yemen) in deteriorating security situations. There's no stomach for war in the US at the moment. Not to mention it's much more likely that the US would attack North Korea over a perceived threat rather than NK attacking SK. They have more form for it than any country since industrialised warfare began.
But like I said. It's all posturing and chest beating. The US won't attack North Korea because it currently lacks the support at home for a full on war and North Korea has nothing the US wants or needs. Not to mention it has no justification on the basis of its own national security to attack NK and somehow I don't think the whole 'but they've got WMDs and can use them against US interests' excuse with work anymore for some reason.
And north Korea won't attack the south because doing so would ruin them economically and likely result in the destabilisation and eventual collapse of the regime.