Gates says U.S. won't accept nuclear North Korea

[icymist]

Source: Japan Today

Gates says U.S. won't accept nuclear North Korea
Wednesday 21st October, 05:33 PM JST

SEOUL —
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats “even more lethal and destabilizing” than before.

Gates arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a two-day visit for annual defense ministers’ talks with South Korea after a stop in Tokyo.

“There should be no mistaking that we do not today—nor will we ever—accept a North Korea with nuclear weapons,” Gates told a group of American and South Korean troops at the U.S. military headquarters in central Seoul.

<snip>
He said the U.S. is firmly committed to providing South Korea with deterrence against those threats “with the full range of military might, from the nuclear umbrella to conventional strike and missile defense capabilities.”


Read more: http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/gates-says-us-wont-accept-nuclear-north-korea

---

Does this mean we are arming South Korea with nukes?

[dgibby]

1. I doubt that we'd arm SK with nukes.

Probably saying we'd use them against NK if necessary, although I certainly hope not.

[icymist]

2. I must have read that line fives times before posting it here.

I sure hope we're not putting nukes in South Korea.

[sentelle]

3. uh, isn't this a little late?

Since they already have nukes?

I just had a "Dr. Strangelove" moment on this.....

[JonQ]

4. I don't know about SK, but we might ease up

on Japan developing their own capabilities.

I actually wouldn't mind South Korea developing their own nukes. Let them take more of the financial burden for guarding their borders and we can withdraw our troops.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. After the way the USA and it's "coalition" invaded and occupied Iraq,

.
.
.

North Korea is NOT going to demilitarize to please the USA.

Saddam emasculated his military to please the USA, and they took over his country anyways, killing hundreds of thousands and ruining the infrastructure.

USA should just stop its saber-rattling with North Korea - let its neighbours handle it. China will not let the DPRK start a global war, but if the USA starts one, China WILL get into the mix -

methinks China is ready . . .

sumthing to ponder . . .

[roamer65]

6. Delete.

[roamer65]

7. We eventually will just leave South Korea.

In the near future, I expect South Korea to negotiate a security agreement with Beijing and then they will ask us to leave. The Asia/Pacific region is fast becoming the Chinese "sphere of influence".

[forum slut]

8. seems a little late now considering that they probably have the bomb already.

[icymist]

9. Who do you mean? South Korea? Doubt it unless the US puts it there.

We already know about North Korea.

[forum slut]

10. ................

no, NK. I'm simply pointing out that it's a little late to say we won't accept something that already is. It's like saying "I don't accept that the mail isn't delivered on Sunday".

[icymist]

11. Yes, but we all know that NK has the bomb already.

My concern is arming South Korea with nukes. In Gates line it sure sounds like the old cold war rhetoric right before the US arms a nation with nukes. I do hope I'm wrong.

[forum slut]

12. what would you prefer then?

[icymist]

13. I need to know a little more of what you mean here.

Would I prefer a nuclear unchecked North Korea? ...NO, which by the way we already have.
Would I prefer an armed nuclear South Korea? ...again NO
It doesn't matter what I think here for Gates and the powers that be are deciding this. I am merely posting the message so that it's meaning might be discerned, either now or later.

Frankly, I'd prefer that all nukes go the way of the dinosaur, become extinct.

[forum slut]

15. well, I guess I was just asking you what you think might be a better idea?

It's OK if you don't have a better idea though cuz nobody else does either. lol

[dysfunctional press]

14. someone should tell gates that NK already HAS nuclear weapons.

and we've already accepted it.

sadaam hussein on the other hand- we couldn't accept even WITHOUT nuclear weapons.