North Korea's Full War Declaration

[nadinbrzezinski]

(Note to hosts, government statements, even when through Reuters live blog, are not covered by Tittle XVII US code, aka copyright)

Another note, this is far more bluster than usual...no wonder things are as tense as they are.

Full war declaration statement from DPRK (via KCNA):

The moves of the U.S. imperialists to violate the sovereignty of the DPRK and encroach upon its supreme interests have entered an extremely grave phase. Under this situation, the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu, convened an urgent operation meeting on the performance of duty of the Strategic Rocket Force of the Korean People's Army for firepower strike and finally examined and ratified a plan for firepower strike.

The important decision made by him is the declaration of a do-or-die battle to provide an epochal occasion for putting an end to the history of the long-standing showdown with the U.S. and opening a new era. It is also a last warning of justice served to the U.S., south Korean group and other anti-reunification hostile forces. The decision reflects the strong will of the army and people of the DPRK to annihilate the enemies.

Now the heroic service personnel and all other people of the DPRK are full of surging anger at the U.S. imperialists' reckless war provocation moves, and the strong will to turn out as one in the death-defying battle with the enemies and achieve a final victory of the great war for national reunification true to the important decision made by Kim Jong Un.

The Supreme Command of the KPA in its previous statement solemnly declared at home and abroad the will of the army and people of the DPRK to take decisive military counteraction to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of its supreme leadership as regards the war moves of the U.S. and south Korean puppets that have reached the most extreme phase.

Not content with letting B-52 make sorties into the sky over south Korea in succession despite the repeated warnings of the DPRK, the U.S. made B-2A stealth strategic bomber and other ultra-modern strategic strike means fly from the U.S. mainland to south Korea to stage a bombing drill targeting the DPRK. This is an unpardonable and heinous provocation and an open challenge.

By taking advantage of the U.S. reckless campaign for a nuclear war against the DPRK, the south Korean puppets vociferated about "preemptive attack" and "strong counteraction" and even "strike at the commanding forces", openly revealing the attempt to destroy monuments symbolic of the dignity of the DPRK's supreme leadership.

This clearly shows that the U.S. brigandish ambition for aggression and the puppets' attempt to invade the DPRK have gone beyond the limit and their threats have entered the reckless phase of an actual war from the phase of threat and blackmail.

The prevailing grim situation more clearly proves that the Supreme Command of the KPA was just when it made the judgment and decision to decisively settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists and south Korean puppets by dint of the arms of Songun, because time when words could work has passed.

Now they are openly claiming that the B-2A stealth strategic bombers' drill of dropping nuclear bombs was "not to irritate the north" but "the defensive one". The U.S. also says the drill is "to defend the interests of its ally". However, it is nothing but a lame pretext to cover up its aggressive nature, evade the denunciation at home and abroad and escape from the DPRK's retaliatory blows.

The era when the U.S. resorted to the policy of strength by brandishing nuclear weapons has gone.

It is the resolute answer of the DPRK and its steadfast stand to counter the nuclear blackmail of the U.S. imperialists with merciless nuclear attack and their war of aggression with just all-out war.

They should clearly know that in the era of Marshal Kim Jong Un, the greatest-ever commander, all things are different from what they used to be in the past.

The hostile forces will clearly realize the iron will, matchless grit and extraordinary mettle of the brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu that the earth cannot exist without Songun Korea.

Time has come to stage a do-or-die final battle.

The government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK solemnly declare as follows reflecting the final decision made by Kim Jong Un at the operation meeting of the KPA Supreme Command and the unanimous will of all service personnel and people of the DPRK who are waiting for a final order from him.

1.From this moment, the north-south relations will be put at the state of war and all the issues arousing between the north and the south will be dealt with according to the wartime regulations.

The state of neither peace nor war has ended on the Korean Peninsula.

Now that the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have entered into an actual military action, the inter-Korean relations have naturally entered the state of war. Accordingly, the DPRK will immediately punish any slightest provocation hurting its dignity and sovereignty with resolute and merciless physical actions without any prior notice.

2. If the U.S. and the south Korean puppet group perpetrate a military provocation for igniting a war against the DPRK in any area including the five islands in the West Sea of Korea or in the area along the Military Demarcation Line, it will not be limited to a local war, but develop into an all-out war, a nuclear war.

It is self-evident that any military conflict on the Korean Peninsula is bound to lead to an all-out war, a nuclear war now that even U.S. nuclear strategic bombers in its military bases in the Pacific including Hawaii and Guam and in its mainland are flying into the sky above south Korea to participate in the madcap DPRK-targeted nuclear war moves.

The first strike of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will blow up the U.S. bases for aggression in its mainland and in the Pacific operational theatres including Hawaii and Guam and reduce not only its military bases in south Korea but the puppets' ruling institutions including Chongwadae and puppet army's bases to ashes at once, to say nothing of the aggressors and the provokers.

3. The DPRK will never miss the golden chance to win a final victory in a great war for national reunification.

This war will not be a three day-war but it will be a blitz war through which the KPA will occupy all areas of south Korea including Jeju Island at one strike, not giving the U.S. and the puppet warmongers time to come to their senses, and a three-dimensional war to be fought in the air, land and seas and on the front line and in the rear.

This sacred war of justice will be a nation-wide, all-people resistance involving all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas in which the traitors to the nation including heinous confrontation maniacs, warmongers and human scum will be mercilessly swept away.

No force on earth can break the will of the service personnel and people of the DPRK all out in the just great war for national reunification and of all other Koreans and overpower their might.

Holding in high esteem the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu, the Korean people will give vent to the pent-up grudge and realize their cherished desire and thus bring a bright day of national reunification and build the best power on this land without fail.

[morningfog]

1. In another war. What the hell, might as throw another log on the fire.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. In this case the continuation

Of an old one

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

3. The USA may not have the resources or troops if things heat up.

Perhaps China will reason with NK.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The scenario

Assuming this goes hot, really depends on nukes no nukes.

Nukes get used all kinds of bets are truly off.

As to china, you can bet calls are right now being made to Pyongyang, and not just Beijing. Earlier today the Russian foreign minister made comments about things spinning out of control...after reading that...those rarely strong public comments Mae sense.

Oh and here you go

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21974381

[kenny blankenship]

4. Well it's their funeral

I hope they used the gold ink and the special goose quill pen when they wrote that GBCW. It's going to be the one and only opportunity they get.

[David__77]

8. There won't be a war.

Paradoxically, these N. Korean bellicose statements may help preserve the mainly peaceful status quo. It's a cold war, not a hot one, thankfully.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. We are at Cold War

And so far, beyond the verbal saber rattling, experts say no actual moves where it counts.

That said, The comments of the Russian foreign minister reflected the escalation and we both know Beijing (and Moscow) are making calls trying to make cooler heads prevail...

What worries analysts is that the emergency phone lines between Pyongyang and Seul are off line, increasing the risk of a mistake, an error , or a misunderstanding.

And the kid is modeling himself after grandpa...that is just a fun fact.

[kenny blankenship]

16. If I thought there would be a war I wouldn't joke about it

But if they ever get serious about wanting to end it all, I support their choice to go out with a manifesto like this. Forty diatribe laced pages - complete with shout outs to Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan - should strike the right ending note.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

17. Suicide note for the modern age from a hermit in the last century?

[yodermon]

5. oh holy shit, they are completely bugfuck insane, over

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Yup

I think they are serious.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

41. I think the regime is serious. The people have no options.

[sakabatou]

35. Mm-hmm

[Bonobo]

9. I have opposed every war in my lifetime...

But in 47 years, I have never heard of a threat of this kind.

I live in Japan, far too close to this madman.

I fear something will start, but if it does, I pray they get hit hard enough that they cannot hit back.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. It is more bluster than usual, agreed

Hey, he even threatened my home town...and I got my doubts. Alaska, on the other hand...it's a large state, and will leave it at that.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

12. For some reason I thought you were in AZ.

NK can make all the threats it wants, but ultimately the first move will be left up to them.

After that nobody can tell where the shitstorm will take us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. San Diego

[Lint Head]

11. North Korea does not realize how technology has changed the 'art' of killing.

I guarantee the US knows every strategic military move they're making. Outer Space is somewhere North Korea does not have an advantage when it comes to spying. If this gets out of hand China will be warned and there will be a lot of dead human beings.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Leave space...I am betting a few drones are loitering near by as well

Two things come to mind though

1.- Never underestimate the enemy

2.- All plans break down when they come in contact with the enemy.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. There is another factor to add to your two.

China and Russia aren't nearly as "at war" with us as they used to be. The promise of commerce changes alliances and enemies.

They both helped NK during the last war, but this time?

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Correct

But the first is to Americans, who seem to believe walk in park. It could very well be, due to the situation in the NK armed forces...MRE's might be a powerful tool, I wish I were kidding. But...we might face a fanatical force willing to go down and all that.

The second is NK, no pan survives contact, that blustery statement seems to assume such.

Both of these assume war going hot.

[jmg257]

20. NK wants a "Do or die battle" huh? Die please. Nt

[longship]

21. I do not believe the DPRK has a nuke.

Let alone a deliverable nuke.

The latest underground test was measured at 6 KTons. That's a dud. There was likely no chain reaction, if they even intended it to do so. My thinking is that they still haven't solved how to assemble a supercritical mass in the microseconds necessary to bring about a sustained nuclear reaction. It isn't an easy problem to solve. And if the assembly does not get a couple of neutrons at the critical time, the whole assembly blows itself apart. In other words, a dud; a dirty conventional bomb.

Then, there's the problem of weaponizing the damned thing. Exploding a nuke under the ground isn't the same thing as loading it on a missile and delivering it to a target. It has to be small -- none of DPRK's missiles have large lift capacity, let alone long range. It has to survive operationally intact from launch to the target.

Plus, you have to have a missile that can hit the target!!

I am very worried about the DPRK escalation. But I do not think they have a nuke, let alone a deliverable nuke.

But I would bet that the lights are burning bright at the White House, the CIA, and the Pentagon tonight. They need to be on top of this, just in case.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. American officials disagree

It is a tactical nuke...best case Hiroshima size.

Now think what other use that bomb could have apart of hitting the obvious targets. Think back to the good ol' days of the Nuclear Cannon.

Not saying they are, but...

Let me add the vid

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=YNlOtLhnsEE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYNlOtLhnsEE

[longship]

25. I just don't think the DPRK has the know how.

Their tests, as far as the publicly released info is concerned, tells a different story.

I am no expert, but I did graduate with a BS in physics and have had some minor experience in these matters. AFAIK, what the DPRK has exploded underground were no nuclear detonations. At least no full blown ones.

I remember the atomic cannon -- I was born in the forties. There's no way the DPRK has a weaponized nuke deliverable via such a method. They haven't even demonstrated a sustained chain reaction in any of their tests, certainly not the last one. I suspect highly that they may have a dirty bomb, which is enough to worry about as it is.

I may be wrong, Nadine. But I don't think they've solved the initiator problem. That's why their tests do not seem to have the nuke explosion signature, at least not a definitive one. The assembly blows itself apart before the chain reaction gets going. No neutrons at the precise time? No chain reaction.

Plus, remember, an underground test bomb is not likely weaponized, especially considering the very few tests they've done. Exploding it underground is not the same as putting it on a missile or an artillery shell where G-forces of the acceleration have to not tear the bomb mechanism apart.

I think the people at Langley probably know what's really going on. I have some opinions, but I can only babble on in my ignorance here. One hopes they know more than I do.

always good to read your posts.

on edit: none of their tests approached the power of the Hiroshima bomb. The last rest was about 1/3, at about 6 KTons, arguably a conventional explosion.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. I think what they have will be used

If we get to that point, to clear the DMZ and the minefields.

But the folks in multiple governments, not just the US, are acting as if those were nukes.

Puffing the ego of the NK is not a good idea. If they did not, especially the Chinese would not act as if they did.

And the SK are making noise that they need a nuke for deterrent.

The B-2 were about that, IMO, partly...we have extended our nuclear umbrella.

[longship]

29. The B-2 flyover was troubling to me.

I recently watched "Thirteen Days", Kevin Costner's flick about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was a paper boy in Detroit at that time, so I was in tune to the news. It was scary, very scary. Detroit was a top target if US and USSR went to war.

Thank goodness we had JFK in the White House.

This is worrying me, too. Not because I think North Korea has nuclear weapons; I think they do not. Rather, like you Nadine, I worry about what people will do if they assume that they do have nuclear weapons.

That's why I hope Barack Obama is like JFK. And I wonder what the fucking crazy Republicans are going to say and do about this business. So far, not a peep out of them. That, in itself, may be worrisome.

As always.

[TwilightGardener]

37. I've been wondering about the lack of "peep" from McCrazy and the usual suspects

who up until last week were screeching for our involvement in Syria, like we need that right now. But I haven't heard them comment on this. Oddly quiet on the Repub front--and the Freeper/RW blog types are not sure which angle to attack Obama from, on this situation. It's unprecedented.

[JimDandy]

45. Has anyone seen McCain in the last 24 hrs?

Also not a peep from Obama or John Kerry.

[TwilightGardener]

47. Haven't heard from Obama, just Hagel. Kerry is supposed to go there next week (SK).

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Watch, if they cancel the trip

That is bad news.

As to Grandpa and his friend, this would not be a cake walk. For some reason those two believe any war in the ME is...oh never mind Iraq...next stop...Iran.

[GP6971]

57. Another good indicator

Is if the State Dept starts calling for the assembly of non-essential personnel and US military dependents for possible evacuation

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. And there is another

The closing of the industrial park at the border

[GP6971]

65. No state dept

travel advisory for the ROK either. another positive sign

[Poll_Blind]

31. North Korea has already detonated 2-4 nuclear weapons on separate occasions:

HERE

PB

[longship]

38. Read your citation.

Low yield. No nucleotides. Therefore, no nuke detonation.

Unless you believe Russia's outlier estimates.

The DPRK doesn't know how to construct an initiator. That's why their nuclear bombs always fizzle. The assembly blows itself apart before a chain reaction gets going.

They get a few KTons, but mostly it's conventional explosives and the nuke assembly blowing itself apart. If it chain reacted, there would be an unmistakable, unambiguous signature. That's not what I am reading at the link you supplied.

Remember, this really is nuclear physics. A nuclear bomb has unmistakable characteristics, only it seems that the DPRK's tests do not satisfy those criteria.

If they had achieved a nuclear blast there would be universal agreement that they did.

I trust the consensus that the data is muddy; the yields are very low; there is no evidence of nuclear daughter products.

The DPRK may have a dirty bomb, but they have no nuclear weapon.
QED.

You supplied the link. Read it yourself.
Thanks.

[Poll_Blind]

39. I swear to god, this is the only site on the internet where people will downplay North Korea...

...with a straight face.

Dirty bomb, low-yield nuclear weapon, high-yield nuclear weapon.

Shoot straight with me for one second: How much difference do you think it's going to make, as far as perceived intent, if North Korea detonates a plutonium dirty bomb above Seoul, a low-yield nuclear bomb above Seoul or a high-yield nuclear bomb above Seoul?

For that matter, do you think there's going to be all that much perceived difference if North Korea fired mustard gas artillery shells into Seoul?

I think all of those are going to get almost exactly the same response, which is going to be a harsh one.

PB

[longship]

42. It's nuclear physics and bomb engineering, my friend.

It's science, in other words.

Do you really want the DPRK to have a nuke? I don't.

But how can one tell whether they have one or not? After all, the claim that they do. (Or course, they also claim their people are happy and well fed.)

Who do you trust in such a quandary?

You are the person who supplied the link where I read precisely what I already knew about DPRK nuke tests. That their claims are exactly like all other DPRK claims: a lot of bloviation and not much substance. Read the rest of your cited link.

Let me lay it down clearly. On cannot hide a nuclear explosion. It has a specific signature which is unique. Not only is its seismic effects unique, but it also produces unmistakeable daughter products which are not otherwise found in nature.

If you don't have those, you have no nuclear explosion. You can cherry pick the paragraphs in your cited article to convince yourself that the DPRK has a deliverable nuke that will actually work. But I look at this from a standpoint of the science and I see nothing of the sort.

If the scientists can't agree on this, there really is no way that they've solved the problems of building the thing. If they had, there would be agreement since the seismic signature alone is definitive. The DPRK tests were not definitive, and their yields were all low.

North Korea likely does not have a deliverable nuke. Shit! Their missiles don't even work very well. Even if their nukes worked when buried in the ground, it isn't the same thing as putting them on a rocket, let alone an unreliable rocket. If the DPRK puts a nuke in one of their rockets and aims it at Soeul, it would more likely come down in Pyongyang than Soeul.

Why does anybody believe what the DPRK says?

We still should be worried. Not about what they say, but what they'll do. If they have convinced themselves that they have a nuke and decide to use it against SK, that would be bad, even if the damned thing doesn't work.

So, I am with you. I am worried, too. I just don't think they have very good weaponry, and almost certainly not a deliverable nuke.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. Alas every government is acting as if they do

With sanctions and everything

[oldhippydude]

23. sorry can't help it

I keep flashing on that early 60's thing... the mouse that roared...

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. What worries experts is not a direct road to war

But a series of miscalculations.

[jimlup]

27. Agreed

That's the concern... I'm hopeful that China will step in and control their wayward child. This could spiral into an unexpected direction if North Korea continues its bellicose rhetoric.

[wickerwoman]

28. So it seems Dennis Rodman's mission has failed.

[defacto7]

30. For what it's worth...

I'm no expert but I can possibly see this scenario....

Their nukes are not such a big deal in themselves but more than a million troops are. Say they hit the DMZ with a few messy small nuclear explosions, some minutes later the dust clears, the mines are non-existent. 500,000 troops with no concept of modern warfare along with a couple thousand tanks and some artillery cross into SK. They loose a measly 200,000 men... so what, it's for dear leader. A couple hours later 100,000 men storm into Seoul. If that happens do you think it is still in China's best interest to side with the US? Not for a minute. China sides with NK not wanting a mass of immigrants coming in. China says, "US... stay out of this or your West Coast is toast." Do you think the US is going to take out Pyongyang? Not one chance. NK owns the South, we loose 30,000 Americans, China wants everyone to shut up, and Russia is laughing it's ass off saying, "I told you so" and doesn't drop a dime. Yes, NK looses a couple hundred thousand troops now, then 100,000 later to radiation, but they have 100,000 in Seoul and another 700,000 more waiting in the wings.

Just a sick thought.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Not that sick

Except that we would still respond.

This scenario hubby and I have been going over.

In the end, worst case, doors of hell could very well be opened. You can bet this is something planners are actually considering.

I can see an ssbn launching all 24 warheads before China can say high.

[defacto7]

34. That could be a strategy...

but someone would have to realize that this would be the only possible response and not blink. What China would do or not do at that point... who knows. In any case, someone may decide it's not worth it to blitz the planet and the end game would be just as ugly in it's own way. The whole thing is really messy and I think NK has more of an advantage than most people think... as long as they are as crazy as I think they are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. That is because you are doing a thing

A lot of people are not doing. You are not underestimating them.

[gordianot]

33. This could also be an internal matter in North Korea given famine and dissension in the ranks.

Current leadership is backed into a corner internationally and they probably know they will not survive a regime change. What is there to lose?

Maybe Dennis Rodman has an extra bedroom.

[Jack Sprat]

36. Just shut up and draw your gun, Mr Kim.

Otherwise, eat your kemshi and go to bed.

[MrModerate]

40. Funny how this language, even filtered through translation . . .

. . . strikes such a similar tone to the rightwing bloviators throughout the wingnut blogosphere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Quite honestly, reminded me of bad science fiction

[MrModerate]

69. I'm thinking "Bill, the Galactic Hero," maybe . . .

Which of course is satire.

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. I will have to find that

No more like gaming fiction set in a sci if setting...Battletech to be specific.

[sigmasix]

43. looking for payments?

I suspect that fearless leader is hoping to rattle the sword enough to shake loose some cash pay-offs from the west in exchange for toning it down. The family fortune is probably quiet large, but having Rodman over might have stirred a desire for more western culture exposure for himself, and he needs all the money he can get to hire hollywood hotlist celebrities to pay him a visit.
Didnt his daddy have an arrangement with Clinton and others for a cash pay-out on de-escalation of the NKs nuclear program? One would think a well-placed sniper could solve this problem- or would the NK people be willing to give fanatic loyalty to anyone claiming family lineage with fearless leader?

[JimDandy]

44. Bellicosity and grandiosity

are the adjectives for this declaration.

[HeiressofBickworth]

46. Third paragraph...

"a final victory of the great war for national reunification". Is that what this is all about? Does the North think they have some right to South Korea that they are willing to go nuclear to achieve? It may explain why they think the US performing aerial stunts over South Korea is somehow an attack against the North.

They aren't thinking clearly. If they use nukes against South Korea, they shouldn't be planning on taking the place over. The nuclear fallout will kill all of them.

The problem with dealing with madmen is that it is impossible to predict any behavior. Predictions are based on information and logical analysis which doesn't apply to madmen. So I guess the old adage applies here: Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Hmmm yes they are

After the dust clears, no pun, you can rebuild. Ask Hiroshima and Nagasaki

[cali]

53. I hate to disappoint the op, but there won't be a war

and the level of bluster has gone up and down for 60+ years.

Yes, I know you have me and half of DU on ignore. Seriously, you must have the longest DU ignore list of anyone here. Why bother being on a discussion board at all if you're so averse to opposing opinions?

[vaberella]

56. This is what I figured. Hence the reason I won't take it seriously. n/t

[cali]

63. hey, nice to see you, vaberella!

[SidDithers]

61. "panting for disaster"...

best description written.

Sid

[L0oniX]

66. We all have you on ignore. You must have special powers. n/t

[cali]

67. huh?

[zappaman]

54. Hysterical!

And how are their nukes gonna hit us?
They gonna toss them over like a shotput?
Or maybe tie them to some bird feet and let them fly?
Oh, I know...kites!

Sometimes I think you want bad things to happen just so you can say "I told you so".
Your endless posts about this sure seem to point in that direction.

[vaberella]

55. Is this true?! Because I will be in South Korea this summer for a month.

Huh...well at least I will get to see history being made.

[spanone]

59. 'Marshal Kim Jong Un, the greatest-ever commander' bwahahahahahaaaa

[jsr]

60. TLTR. Where do they teach them to write this crap?

LOL.

[polly7]

62. Thanks for the information nadin.

[MrScorpio]

64. The Mouse is roaring. nt

[L0oniX]

68. Meanwhile Freedonia is preparing to melt the ice caps and drown us all. n/t