Originally posted by: dpm
And if they did try a full assembly test, I'm not sure it would be a good idea at all to try an intercept. Firstly we'd have to be damn sure it would work (a long way from being garuangteed just yet) and secondly you've got to remember taht a succesful intercept would have nasty effects in the immediate area. Thats fine when you are at war, and someone is attacking you, but not in a test on their own territory. In fact, that would be an overt act of war, and give them Casus belli to do whatever they damn well wanted.
good point, but then again if we can shoot one down...we can another, they would have to realize that. the larger message would be "oh Kim you got nukes and missiles to carry them! and we have the means to shoot them down...back to square one eh?
building a nuclear facility-a few million. making nuke weapons-a few more million. kim jong ill realizing having nukes is now pretty much a moot point...priceless!
and NK does not want to really piss off japan too much, one thing the Japanese have in common with israel is a long history of kicking the butt of the larger countries around them, especially china. also japan has had to nuclear detonations in anger on thier soil, they are not going to allow NK to have them...long. i remeber some quotes by the japanese prime minister to that effect, i will see if i can find them.