Defense Secretary James Mattis said that any military conflict with North Korea would be catastrophic! Why?
What do they have that we don't have more of and better? Can't we just annihilate them with a few well-chosen well-aimed bombs? Are they REALLY that huge a threat?
A nuclear strike on Pyongyang would seriously annoy China, that's why. The prevailing wind is easterly, which would push the fallout in the direction of Beijing.
We could, but we won't. And the truth is that conventional warfare does not apply in Asia. I guess no one remembers Vietnam. The North Koreans have demonstrated the same fanatical commitment that we saw in Japan during WWII. What was it that cooled that brand of dedication? Unfortunately, it was nuclear weapons. Otherwise, that conflict would have continued for an indefinite period with a huge loss of life. As China allied themselves with North Korea in 1951, they would be ready to step in to defend them again. The difference this time is that China is a nuclear power.
