This leads to the next thing. Violating Japan's airspace with a missile may be a provocation for war. If that's the case, you're going to hear from our (US) president that we're officially going to war or conflict with North Korea. Unfortunately, in this case, I believe that Bannon is right. (We're screwed in that situation)
Many people are blaming China for the whole NK situation for their "support" and asking for a regime change.<p>What do you propose that China can do after the regime change?<p>Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya and great examples that you cannot just throw away a dictatorship. What follows is practically a game of thrones of powers in the region which is a lose-lose situation for everyone, specially people of the "free'd" country and the neighbors.
First thing on the BBC article:<p>> No effort was made by the Japanese to shoot down the missile, which was launched early in the morning local time, triggering safety warnings.<p>Isn't that odd? Why mention this up front? Why <i>not</i> shoot this down given the warnings to the public indicated it was serious and a threat to life?<p>What tech do Japan use to shoot these down? Is it the same as the Yanks? What happens the moment they try to shoot one down and it sails right by?
What does the Japanese Self-Defense Force's charter allow in cases like this? Are they allowed to launch attacks on foreign soil in response to immediate threats, or do they need to appeal to the US/allies to do it for them?<p>(Not that there's much they could usefully do to NK, AFAIK, but I'm curious about the principle.)
Is there any way an amateur can verify claims of a missile being fired? Does it appear on radar at all?
Thinking one of the flight tracking sites.<p>In today's world I'm skeptical to say the least.
I'm less worried about NK missiles than I am about a boat with an NK nuke on board, detonated in a harbor. A "smugglers war".<p>I'm assuming the US Coast Guard is all over this kind of threat, but I don't know how hard it is to detect a bomb hidden aboard in some cranny, shielded by multiple layers of inches-thick steel.
This is terrifying in light of watching simulated WW3 this morning this morning: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbB0srzLuuo" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbB0srzLuuo</a>
I wonder if China could just annex NK a la Russia and Crimea, but in this case bring them into the modern age. The world would probably breathe a sigh of relief.