What could n Korea do with nuclear capability;
1) launch s few missiles at population centers in the USA. That would result in instant destruction of fat boy as well as North Korea. We would be pissed off enough to just do it. They might toss a few to s Korea and Japan, leaving China in control of those countries and the USA weakened. We would cut purchases from China and our worldwide power would drop

2) n Korea could lob a dozen or more high altitude bombs and cripple USA with EMP USA would be crippled big time. China assumes dominance

3) n Korea sits on its nuclear bombs in an economic catastrophe. Maybe China takes over n Korea and s Korea

4) n Korea just merged with China and China sets sights on Taiwan and s Korea

Things get pretty complicated for sure

I agree, but the reason to consider it sort-of a real "crisis" is North Korea made a huge leap forward. In ten years it went from testing a crude nuclear device to have a large nuclear bomb, maybe an H-bomb, and missiles that can possibly carry them around the world. I read some speculation that someone gave them a great deal of help, maybe a nuclear facility in the Crimea that either with or without Russian approval had a chance to sell technology to North Korea. I'm sure the CIA knows more about what actually happened and is trying to stop it from happening.

I completely agree that nuclear weapons are something people will never use and never relinquish. The sudden concern, though, is not completely manufactured because one of the most hostile countries possibly developed/acquired an H-bomb they could deliver to the US. If they wanted to launch it, there's a chance they could do it before US saw them fueling it and attacked, and there's a chance it could get to a population center and detonate, and if that happens people will suddenly be willing to give gov't a blank check of power and money, and politicians never let a crisis go to waste. I think US should calmly work out our response to this very unlikely scenario right now, rather than in the heat of the moment if it should happen.

It almost certainly will not happen, which is why people feel comfortable turning it into a joke and looking for any way to argue President Trump somehow (contrary to reality IMHO) is mismanaging the talks.

Nuclear weapons aren’t really of much use to a two bit bankrupt country. It’s like slapping the face of a big bruising bouncer. What happens next is kind of predictable and painful

I thought n Korea was a bit of a manufactured potential crises rather than a real one. A number of countries have nuclear cabilities, and they act responsibly. If fat boy gets a dose of how to do that, so what if he has the weapons.

" he would never actually attack USA."
I agree. No one will intentionally attack the US with nuclear missiles and no one will voluntarily relinquish them. For President Trump, those are extreme starting points in the negotiation that never will happen. Trump takes a gamble saying absurd things like Kim Jong-Un is a good leader who case about his people, but I don't think the cost of losing the gamble is high. It's not like there was a budding revolution in North Korea just waiting for a public nod from the POTUS that he understands how abusive North Korean gov't is. And stopping the war games just doesn't seem that big a deal to me.

If Trump worked out a deal where the top North Korean would go into permanent exile in China and Vietnam, allow free travel to South Korea, relinquish all nuclear weapons, and establish a truth and reconciliation commission to document abuses committed by rank-and-file prison guards who were following orders; it still wouldn't be enough for some people.

Thanks. It popped into my head as a "what if..." as soon as I read of the quakes months ago. Now fat boy is at the table so it made me think of the possibility again. If my theory is correct, it may also be likely the NOKO scientists that built their nuke capability are dead and buried along with their work, courtesy of Mother Nature and bit of plate tectonics. Now, let's wait and see what pans out.

did not know about earthquake...thanks....

There are a number of survivalist books on the results of emp. It’s devadtating and we aren’t ready for it. I have bought guns and ammo to buy me some time. But the food issue would be a real problem for sure. Rioting would be widespread here in vegas (as well as in most places except Midwest perhaps). Neighbors would be mostly enemies unless they were prepared with stockpiles of food and water

That's a really good theory.

Thanks! I've been busy with other things and only caught bits a pieces here and there. I do trust that Trump won't be fooled by the man-child. I do trust that man-child knows there will be consequences if he doesn't act in good faith.
NK as at a turning point.

"...why now????"

mia767ca, my personal theory is, if you recall, a few months ago some earthquake activity was detected in the vicinity of Rocket Man's nuke and rocket facilities. I'm guessing the damage was rather extensive as in an underground Chernobyl disaster. Now, fat boy has to come to the table because he doesn't have anything left, but wants to get some rebuild cash. That's just me thinkin'.

At least Kommie Kim has stopped shooting rockets all over the place like a little kid playing with fireworks.
If one of those fell on South Korea, Japan or Okinawa, I imagine all kinds of death and destruction would follow after the face.

Methinks if Trump appeared at the left side of Che, the left would continue to deride him.

"Bay of North Korea" made me LOL. Beyond that you make a good point.

North Korea agreed that denuclearization was the goal. While there are many details and issues that could come up, placing it squarely on the table as something they agree to is more than just agreeing to keep talking.

Trump said he would suspend war games while Kim was negotiating in good faith, but since the troops are still in place and sanctions are on, that isn't much of a concession. We can reschedule them anytime we want.

Methinks that scenario has been averted. For now.

Starvation throughout the USA would follow. Me dino would need my collection of guns and stockpile of ammo to protect myself from my neighbors.
I live next to a large woods between towns but I'm sure that would would be stripped of game in no time.

I don't trust Kim Jong Un either. My understanding is all that was agreed on were a series of future talks to discuss things further. I read that the next upcoming maneuvers with S Korean military is on hold. But I just read that the American command in S. Korea hasn't been told anything yet.

The fact that the lunatic composed himself enough to sit down to talk a rationally (I'm talking about Un) is a testament to Trumps policy. Whether this was fruitful or not is to be determined.

Really, I am still somewhat concerned about what Trump has perhaps conceded at the summit. What has he gotten? I do not trust Kim Jong Un one inch.
So we'd better make sure about being able to inspect what is going on.

I'm not saying Trump can get a fair shake from MSN, but what exactly is there to be glowing about?

Kim promised to have more talks. That's it.
In exchange we've terminated relevant defense exercises with one of our staunchest allies.

Trump has managed to alienate every liberal democracy on earth while cozying up to the most authoritarian regimes.
If he wasn't your guy you'd be apoplectic.

Trump could appear at the right hand of Jesus at the Second Coming and the libs would continue to deride Trump while honoring Jesus, especially if Jesus turned out to be black.(Which he might).

To come to the negotiating table and speak civilly is a pretty substantial step.

I haven't heard anything yet from any of the former presidents. I fairness I go out of my way to avoid Os voice and face, usually not successfully.

there is the heart of the matter..why now????

If they did a first strike, they would have to rename their countrythe bay of northern korea, and fat boy would be entombed in it. He was never actually going to bomb us, and everyone knew it- including him.

We paid too much attention to him in the first place, in my humble opinion. It was south korea's problem really. We could have very quietly armed S Korea with nukes and it would have shut up fat boy.

Someone from his own country should have assassinated the blowhard long ago for what his regime and his father's did to the people there.