BelowTheRadar, mind posting a source? It is completely not that I distrust you, I just want to read it, too. Can't find anything on CNN, BBC, AP, Reuters, and other mainstream sites.
We do have different news sources for the most part it would appear. Quite frankly I have little faith in the MSM as a news source. CNN (for example) tends to avoid publication until it's so 'in your face it's undeniable'. Even then they will put a government mandated twist on a story. Try Google searches using "North Korea" and combinations of satellite, EMP, over eastern US, orbit.
http://modernsurvivalblog.com/emp-electro-magnetic-pulse/suspect-super-emp-orbit-over-united-states/
http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/north-korean-emp-attack-unstoppable/
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/040413-650684-north-korea-emp-blast-could-destroy-america.htm
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/15/the-danger-of-dismissing-north-koreas-nuclear-thre/
Just for fun I'll add one more link that is an interactive map of how a high altitude EMP weapon would distribute its energy over the North American continent. Don't get freaked out at the first image that comes up as it represents a huge nuke. Play with the 'weapon size/EMP power' settings a bit and it will show a more likely representation of what COULD happen IF the satellite carries an EMP device. I am not saying this is probable, I am saying this is possible.
http://www.empcover.com/EMP-Attack-Simulation.html
It's rather curious that the NK 'weather satellite' orbits over the eastern USA at an altitude (500 KM or 300 Miles) that is ideal for an EMP blast. Lets face it Kim Jong Un can be less than peace loving and quite frankly I don't trust him.
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.
Thanks BelowTheRadar, that's exactly what I was looking for. Quite disconcerting news.
ReadyToGo - South Korea is currently working alongside the most powerful, most experienced, most technologically advanced and largest military force ever assembled on this planet - the USA. Sheer numbers (both in personnel and weapons) are insignificant to superior technology. A thousand traditional fighter planes are hopeless against a dozen stealth aircraft. I'll repeat - numbers don't win. 7.7 "reservists" are just fish in a barrel to a single air strike.
Posting only the North Korean military numbers increases the fear factor because there's nothing to compare it to. The numbers can look scary that way. However, if it will help reduce the fear mongering (even if unintentional), I'll re-post your info, but include South Korea and the US as well. Keep in mind again that numbers aren't everything. Also, I'm not even going to bother including the military numbers for the nations of democracy who would stand beside the US in such a circumstance - Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, and many, many more.
ARMIES:
North Korea: 1,000,000 personnel on the active duty list "AND" 7.7 million reservists as well as 4000 Tanks, 2500 APC's, and 17,900 Artillery pieces.
South Korea: 700,000 personnel on the active duty list (no info on reservists) as well as 3,000 Tanks (no info on APC's and artillery, but an APC is irrelevant, as it is merely a personnel carrier)
USA: 1,430,000 personnel on the active duty list "AND" 850,000 reservists, 16,000 Tanks, 1,741 artillery. Note that they've decided that they don't need more than 28,000 military personnel on the Korean peninsula to keep the peace.
AIR FORCE:
North Korea has 110.000 personnel active and 1,800 aircraft (note that this includes small, insignificant bi-planes. Personnel is insignificant for air force.)
South Korea has 458 aircraft.
USA: 3,318 aircraft
NAVY:
North Korea has 41,000 navy personnel and 27,000 marines as well as 1000 Surface vessels and 70 diesel submarines.
South Korea: 150 large battleships
USA: 71 nuclear submarines, 350 large battleships, 10 aircraft carriers
Weapons of Mass Destruction:
North Korea has 900 ballistic missiles including short range (75 miles), medium range (2500 miles), and intercontinental
(9300 miles). These missiles are capable of delivering Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, and Conventional warheads. (note that experts tally their potential nuclear capability at around 11 nuclear warheads)
South Korea: no data
USA: 9,600 nuclear warheads. That's just the nuclear capability. I can't find exact numbers on the number of conventional warheads that they can deliver, but rest assured they didn't waste it all in the Middle East.
There was a good breakdown on the NK military assets a few days ago... search for "North Korea military graphic" from the National Post. It is pretty overwhelming to see all at once.
However, do a search on their capabilities versus South Korea, and you'll find that while the South lags behind by about 10-15% in numbers, their equipment and training are from the most powerful, and most experienced fighting army in the world, the USA. This also doesn't take the US capabilities into consideration, either. For the 360+ fighter jets that NK has, SK has 300. But the US has 2,300+. And well over 100 stealth fighters. Not even China has an operational, battle-ready stealth fighter (except for that controversial prototype that most experts agree is a barely functional knock-off).
Anyway, numbers aren't worth a thing. That's old-school military thinking. Within 48 hours of the outbreak of war, expect that NK will have no infrastructure, railroads, airfields, communications, power stations or command posts left intact. With aircraft carrier fleets in the area, multiple air bases capable of sending bombers, cruise missiles and drones... they're toast. I think we can all agree that it will be slaughter. Which is unfortunate because these are innocent but brainwashed nationalistic people who have done nothing wrong other than to be born in a country with a depraved government.
As for their nuclear capabilities, NK doesn't have the technology to miniaturize a nuke to the point of placing it on a ballistic missile. They are at least several years out from that. They still have months to go before they can get their nuclear power plant back up and running at full operation. Needless to say, news outlets are sensationalizing things to the point of tabloid status. "They moved a missile to the east!" and then "They raised the missile!" and then "They lowered the missile!" and then "They said this! They said that! Ooooooh..." Whereas in the Middle East, rockets fall several times a week in Israel, war is ongoing in Syria, and Palestine is cleaning up their dead in the streets.
In a selfish way, I wish that the NK/SK standoff was halted. Get it over with, strike first. The NK yearly tantrums have gone on for too many decades, and if war is pending on the horizon, let's finish it before they get their hands on weapons that can destroy entire civilizations. If this were a bar fight, knock the guy out with fists, before he manages to break a bottle and cut you with it.
Do not for one second think that North Korea would be standing alone during a conflict. Communist China, some Arab Nations, and probably some Communists left over from the Soviet days. I don't think that the US and their allies are just going to have a cake walk when it comes down to it.
Badges?, Don't need no stinkin Badges
I agree Readytogo. Iam more concerned with all the "silent armour" that may or is backing NK. Russia alone has more nukes than the us.This war will not be fought like the past nor will it be won.
Russia has consistently voted in favor of sanctions against North Korea. This isn't the cold war any longer... they're not enemies, as much as Hollywood would portray them as such.
As for China, they can barely get their 'stealth' knock-off aircraft flying in a straight line, using an American jet engine design that was scrapped in the mid-60's by the US. Again, numbers aren't everything.
ReadytoGo, which Arab nations are you referring to? I can't think of any.
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not suggesting that we all relax and take it easy (hey, we're preppers, that''s not what we do), but I've made a pretty generous professional life out of statistics, probability, and reading between the lines. There's a fine line between a perceived threat and a real threat. Exercising caution is healthy - living in fear is not.
RabbitTeeth; I think the "Arab nation" to which ReadyToGo is referring is Iran.
ReadyToGo; if I guessed right, you should know Iranians are not Arabs. Iranians are "Persians" like their "cousins" in Iraq and to the north in Azerbaijan. Their primary language is Farsi, not Arabic. NOTE: I've done work over in the middle east, so I am "somewhat" familiar with the culture(s).
But I would agree, that North Korea is fast becoming more troublesome than they have been in years. Kim (not so young) needs to step back a bit, unless he wants his country turned into the next Iraq ... which is probably more likely than anything. Look at the history of the Iraqi conflicts and the now waning US involvement in Afghanistan. US of A needs some place else to become active, and I can somehow see any conflict there not drawing ire from China. There is economic and geographic advantages for both the USA and China if the DPRK, i.e. North Korea, were to fall.
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Is what you say worth at least a Canadian nickel now?
Cause two cents ain't worth squat anymore !
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Self-sufficient is good. Co-efficient is better.
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Who's the next biggest ally to the US? I'm not sure, is it Canada? There are more policemen in New York City than there are members in the Canadian Armed Forces. When it comes down to it the combined forces of evil far outnumber the combined forces of the good in men and equipment. In my opinion anyway. The US has very few friends, when you get down to it.
Badges?, Don't need no stinkin Badges
Who's the next biggest ally to the US? I'm not sure, is it Canada? There are more policemen in New York City than there are members in the Canadian Armed Forces. When it comes down to it the combined forces of evil far outnumber the combined forces of the good in men and equipment. In my opinion anyway. The US has very few friends, when you get down to it.
I believe the USA's next biggest ally would be England. They seem to get involved pretty quick.
Seriously, is the US the good guy's or the bully on the block that makes everyone who disagrees with their thoughts on how things should be, their business. How many recent US intrusions into other nations business was NOT about oil (or other resources)? Regardless the US is going broke and losing it's reserve currency status because they won't mind/tend to their own business. If you wheeled a cannon into the alley behind my house and pointed it at my house 'supposedly because' I shouted profanities at my neighbor across the alley, (all the while you were eyeballing my possessions) you can bet I'd be upset and urging you to move along, even putting my life at risk in attempting to get you to move down the alley.
I'm not anti US just anti US government. I also don't believe that Obama HONESTLY got the most votes in the last election. (not that the GOP would have been better) I do believe Ron Paul's and Jesse Venture's views. My concerns about possible NK aggression to the USA is based on Canada's proximity to the US and how much 'collateral damage' Canada might take, as well as our predicament with the US being our largest export trading partner.
Than= I’d rather be rich than poor.
Then= I first became hungry then I ate.
There = She is there now.
Their = They have their things.
They're = They're going to the mall.
To = They came to the house.
Too = That's too bad.