# North Korea and Superbowl **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 6, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289 "2016-02-06T01:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/21 "2016-02-06T21:19:58Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > North Korea isn’t on Korea time now; they’re on Pyongyang time. > > There’s no more and no less to it than there has been for every other time NK has done anything, anything at all, relating to its nuclear program: (1) whip up nationalistic frenzy at home, (2) “saber rattling” to coerce concessions from foreign powers. The news story takes the time difference into account. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/22 "2016-02-06T21:21:23Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Yes, when you land there, set your watches back 50 years… > > Charlie Wayne, my apologies if I offended with my first posting; I was perhaps too blunt in my dismissal of your concerns. And there is reason to be concerned about actions taken by North Korea and their attempts to develop a true intercontinental missile. > > But throughout life, we evaluate risks and determine if something is worth devoting time to worry about. Worry about our health, our family and how they are doing, other drivers, being mugged…all are legitimate worries. And we tend to rank them, based on (our) perceptions of their danger to us. > > And right now, worries about a North Korean missile anywhere near the Super Bowl, given the status of N. Korean development and the precision needed for such a launch, not to mention the obvious consequences to the North Koreans (who, deluded as they appear to be, can figure that much out), simply puts my (and I hope your) worries of this event in the category of “so low as to be non-existant”. > > IMHO as always. YMMV. IMHO, you have nothing to apologize for. I have always found you to be a gentleman and an honorable poster. We may disagree slightly about the possibility of any danger. But disagreements is what people do. You have always had my respect. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/23 "2016-02-06T21:25:41Z")
It’s not like the Super Bowl is anything important… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/24 "2016-02-06T21:30:58Z")
There is no real danger, as North Korea knows that an attack like that is suicide. All out war against North Korea would end in their absolute destruction. Likely the death of Kim Jong Un and all the military leaders under him. An attack would end China’s support of them, too. It would be N. Korea vs the world. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/25 "2016-02-06T22:03:44Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > But if the North Koreans launch a missile will it delay the showing of **Heidi** right after the Super Bowl? Stephen Colbert has already said his staff will be writing right through the game to ensure the LIVE _Late Show_ is absolutely topical. America is ready! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/26 "2016-02-07T01:40:29Z")
[It looks like North Korea fired off the missile already](http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/06/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch-window/index.html). Its trajectory is south, so, look out Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/27 "2016-02-07T02:36:08Z")
I’m watching CNN right now. About one minute ago, the announcer, quoting Japan’s NHK television, said that it appears the first stage of the missile exploded and the second stage disappeared from radar. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/28 "2016-02-07T03:21:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m watching CNN right now. About one minute ago, the announcer, quoting Japan’s NHK television, said that it appears the first stage of the missile exploded and the second stage disappeared from radar. Oh no! It’s a stealth missile. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/29 "2016-02-07T20:57:14Z")
I wonder how many technicians’ and engineers’ lives just exploded as well? Failure is not well-received at HQ. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/30 "2016-02-07T21:34:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > (Snip)…Welcome to statecraft; a complex and nasty business. **LSLGuy** , that was a really great post. Just thought you ought to know.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/31 "2016-02-07T22:02:54Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I find your post reassuring. Thank you. > > I’ve never seen you post anything before and it’s nice to meet you. If you like **FairyChatMom,** she’s a regular contributor to our weekly MMP threads in the Mundane Pointless Things I Must Share forum. 🙂 We call her **MOOOOOOOOOOM** there. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/32 "2016-02-08T15:28:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I wonder how many technicians’ and engineers’ lives just exploded as well? > > Failure is not well-received at HQ. Probably one of the reasons they have such a hard time achieving anything. Fail, and your history. Bring in the next set of technicians and engineers. Pretty hard to learn from your mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/33 "2016-02-08T17:52:53Z")
[Some reports](http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/02/08/north-korean-satellite-flies-over-super-bowl-site-shortly-after-game.html) are saying the launch was successful. I’ve seen at least 2 reports which said NORAD has confirmed the North Koreans put a satellite into orbit. (The other report said that one of the two objects is thought to be the upper stage of the rocket, which in most cases remains in low-earth orbit for a while before re-entering. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/34 "2016-02-08T18:15:27Z")
The launch was not only successful, the satellite passed directly over Levi’s Stadium, site of the Super Bowl, an hour after the game ended. That’s being reported by several outlets. ETA: removed link (same as Diceman’s) ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/35 "2016-02-08T19:00:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Probably one of the reasons they have such a hard time achieving anything. Fail, and your history. Bring in the next set of technicians and engineers. Pretty hard to learn from your mistakes. Rocket science is hard, even when you are good at it. I highly doubt the NK Government makes a regular practice of eliminating it’s engineers, scientists, and technicians whenever a mistake is made or an experiment/attempt fails. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/36 "2016-02-08T23:04:42Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > My understanding is that it’s mainly postering for domestic consumption. For domestic consumption, all they have to do is claim they fired a missile; they don’t actually have to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/37 "2016-02-24T16:19:00Z")
I tried to decide whether to start a new thread about the following news story. But I decided there was just not enough participation in this thread and so it seemed to me it is not a topic that has a lot of interest. I don’t know why. North Korea scares the living \*\*“BLEEP” \*\*out of me and I have never understood how some nation state that is obviously … (words fail me) … has been able to participate with other nation states. It just baffles me - completely baffles me - I just don’t know the words to express my feelings about that place. Here is the news story: \*\*North Korea threatens to carry out attacks on ‘mainland America’ if the US carries out planned military drill with South Korean troops \*\* Read more: [US and South Korea will rehearse invading North Korea as a ‘pre-emptive strike’ | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3459759/US-South-Korea-rehearse-invading-North-Korea-pre-emptive-strike-giant-joint-military-drill-involving-105-000-troops.html#ixzz416Sg7aty) Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Can anyone explain to me why so few people seem to take this seriously? I agree the leaders are so far out in left field they seem like a joke. But the consequences could be so enormously terrible, isn’t it worth taking seriously? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/38 "2016-02-24T16:47:38Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > \ > But the consequences could be so enormously terrible, isn’t it worth taking seriously? Because it isn’t? Charlie, I concur completely with you that North Korea is a horrible place with leadership that makes Donald Trump look like a veritable Washington, and that if it so desired, it could do a great deal of harm and cause a great amount of bloodshed. I do not dispute that. But the Korean mainland is about 3,600 miles from the nearest US mainland (Alaska) and the distrance between Pyongang and Seattle, Washington is 5,143 miles. This is not an inconsequential distance. The North Korean government has made so many statements of such outrageous flim-flam that it is perhaps hard to take them seriously. But even they know what the consequences of an attack on the American mainland must be (if not, they can ask the Japanese how that went for them). Keeping a wary eye on them is always a good thing; obsessing about what they threaten to do is not. IMHO, of course. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/39 "2016-02-24T16:51:55Z")
Because they lack the _capability_ to do anything. If a 5 year old girl says she’ll beat my ass silly I don’t take the threat seriously. She might be a psycho & truly mean it. If she had a gun and I took a nap it might be curtains for me. But I know (not suspect; _know_) she doesn’t have a gun & I’m not napping. The NKs can pretty thoroughly wreck SK in a span of hours. But that’s about it. And they will totally die trying; the US & world response will be overwhelming and thorough. Any NK threat beyond that is just a spoiled child ranting at the adults. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289/40 "2016-02-24T17:14:03Z")
The time when the US and SK are conducting a joint exercise with larger than usual numbers of troops, and during which they will practice a pre-emptive strike at NK, seems like a particularly inopportune time to start a war. This is crazy posturing by the lunatics in charge of the asylum of North Korea. It’s what they do. The US and SK will do their exercise, Kim will announce that they have been scared off by his threats, and life will continue until he dies, gets shot, or the next time. Kim could fuck up Seoul pretty bad if he wanted to, as long as he doesn’t mind dying and having his army destroyed within a week or so. As soon as the anti-missile defense system mentioned in the article is deployed, the threat of his missiles will be markedly reduced, Then we go back to the same freak show as twenty years ago. It sucks, but the US is in no danger, and South Korea is in no more danger than it has been since the end of the Korean War. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-and-superbowl/745289.md?page=3)