The North Korean Showdown Ratchets Up .... Or Is It?

The guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. John S. McCain is docked at a port in Inchon, 25 miles west of Seoul. You Sung-Ho / Reuters

From Time Magazine:

North Korea would like to test missiles and advance its nuclear program, while smuggling arms to some potentially bad actors for extra cash. The U.S. would like North Korea to stop doing all of these things. Neither side is particularly interested in finding out what happens should the other press the issue. And thus North Korea and the U.S. find themselves in a very strange Kabuki war. Pyongyang is plainly the instigator, continuing its rash of missile and nuclear tests while apparently seeking hard currency by peddling weapons to all buyers. Like automated chess pieces, U.S. military assets have responded by moving into place: to thwart any missile launch, ground-based missile defenses are being deployed to Hawaii, and a nearly $1 billion 10-story, seaborne missile radar has been dispatched to keep an eye peeled for any missile launch from North Korea. It would clearly be a dumb move for North Korea to launch a missile toward the U.S. Its long-range Taepodong 2 has had multiple failures, and even when it works it is limited to a range of only 4,000 miles, about 500 short of Hawaii. (The longest ranging U.S. missile can travel more than 6,000 miles.) But just because it's foolish doesn't mean the North Koreans — hardly a predictable bunch — won't consider it.

Read more ....

Update: Escalation Coming to North Korea Soon -- Information Dissemination

My Comment: I find it incredible that a small country of 20 million citizens, ruled by a sick leader, hungry and dirt poor with a GDP that is dependent on money counterfeiting, drugs, and weapon sales .... this pathetic little nation can yank the chain (and do it successfully) of Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States .... and do it at all the same time.

But what is even more preposterous is the fact that we are now positioning our multi billion dollar military assets and four carrier strike groups in the event of a North Korean missile test .... supposed target Hawaii (which I doubt) .... and stating that we are now ready for "all contingencies".

The North Korean's are not ratcheting things up ..... they have always behaved like this since the end of the Korean War 55 years ago, and they have not changed .... but what has changed is our behavior towards them. We make threats that we do not follow through .... like following a small cargo ship with (maybe) missile components to Myanmar but stating that we will not board it unless given permission?!?!?!? Or sending multiple spy planes to check out their missile sites and nuclear installations .... stating our concerns on how this will not be permitted .... and then doing nothing about it.

President Obama and his team may feel that this will show everyone in Asia that they are playing tough .... but from where I stand, they are showing weakness. No wonder the Japanese have now embarked on a major weapons and military expansion .... they are losing faith in the U.S. Who wouldn't?