North Korea rattles sabers, demands attention, candy

[Salvage]

blackaeronaut wrote:

And if
the answer to that is even 1 in a Million that they might, it's going to
be very hard in the US for anyone to retaliate with nuclear force. The
need for a retaliation is balanced against the very real worry of
getting The bad end on the slim chance that China takes exception to planting mile-high mushrooms in Pyongyang.

That
is one of the places where he followed through, Obama has worked quite
hard to reduce the number of nukes in the world. So yes, Obama might not
push the red button, but if there is the international pressure to
launch I expect then the launch might very well come from Russia.

Alternately if the UN passes a resolution calling for a nuclear strike
Obama might do it. Having the official backing of the international
community is a powerful thing. (Contrast Libya and Syria)

Indeed, I do hope that cooler heads prevail.  Although I would be shocked if Russia would actually go through with it, they having no real interests in the area.  In fact, don't they share a small bit of border?  I know that Vladivostok is within spitting distance (so to speak).
Although if the UN does say "Nuke the bastards" I would think that China would at least ask to hit only strategic targets and not glass the entire area.  And honestly, I'd agree with them.

If China ever gets to the point of not using its veto on something like that, its not recognizably China anymore. Ditto for Russia.
And yes, Russia and north Korea have a 17 km border.
One thing to consider is that on some levels, north Korea to China and Russia compares as Algeria to France, Turkey to Germany or Mexico to the U.S. Location, cheap labor, did I mention location.

blackaeronaut wrote:

The
launch was mostly south. That was so that the only land in its
sub-orbital path (where failed stages might crash) was Australia, and to
get it into a nearly polar orbit.

No
offense, but this gets filed under my "Don't Give A Fuck" folder. 
Sure, they probably are trying to put a satellite in orbit because,
hey! That's big feather in your technological cap...  However, their
statements of peaceful use are ruined when they test-explode nukes in
underground sites concurrent with each new launch system they test. 
Therefore, they are full of shit.

What?
I wasn't asking you to "Give a Fuck." I was trying to answer Dartz' "Why that direction?" and summing up the geographical and orbital mechanics limits. So, please, what's the big deal with that?
Also, the way you put that reads like you think I agree with nK propaganda. So, again, what? Where did that come from? Or would you please clarify what you meant.
--
"Remember, the truth is out there." —Johnny
"It is? Oh, I hope it doesn't maul anyone this time." —me