Korean Combat

I have to wonder if the North Korean and the United States military are planning on using EMP weapons, defensively and offensively, to try to co-opt North Korean nuclear options / US attacks on launch sites. The existence of untried, but theoretically devastating, technology like this may encourage action over diplomacy. The US created EMP weapons and Russia was reported to have supplied this technology to North Korea a decade ago as a defensive technology. 

EMP weapons today are, I believe, nuclear in nature. Additionally, it's difficult to see how a EMP would avoid hitting our friends in China. 

The largest issue is South Korea. The artillery pointed at Seoul is old stuff-but utterly lethal especially in the numbers NK has (5500 guns and some other large number of dumbfire rockets).

As far as an EMP from NK- a nuke is a nuke. It'll be a career ender so to speak if that happens. 

ETA- I'm wrong! The US does have EMP weapons that utilize conventional explosives. They are more discrete apparently, so they could be used without hitting China.

That said- Kim's stuff is solid fuel so it can go on mobile launchers, which can be parked somewhere shielded. Additionally, you still have artillery dumb tubes which basically just need to be pointed at a massive target- Seoul. A compass would get you the data you needed- and I suspect they are already aimed.

EMP is a huge force multiplier. A single EMP high above the West Coast would do far more damage than a air burst over Seattle. If Kim thinks his time is up, the effects of deterrence are largely negated. 

I believe China has declared it will stand beside N Korea in a conflict with the US...........of course that might be for show.  Then I have also read that in actuality China is acting as a moderating force keeping   the N Koreans in line.  Hard to know what to believe.

Incorrect.  China has said that they would stay neutral unless the US initiated hostilities, in which case they would back North Korea.  It is BS for us to talk about a war that would have a far greater effect on two of our allies, South Korea, and Japan, than it would have on us.

And a bigger impact on China. Perhaps South Korea should take more responsibility for its own security, as should Japan. If SK and Japan go nuclear however that is about the worst outcome the Chinese could ask for outside of an actual war. 

I suspect China would not get involved in any case should the US make some sort of military move. That said- the fact that 1) NK claims, and perhaps can, hit the US with a nuclear weapon and 2) threatens to do so makes this a different game. It is NOT just a concern for those in the region.

Put me in the "I hope China is forced to clean up their mess" camp.

We probably won't be talking about any of this in a few weeks after the joint US - SK war games end.

Is the idea that the war games are driving this?

Didn't they use an EMP in Ocean's Eleven movie? (Yes, I realize there was significant artistic license taken)

The kind of EMP that is being discussed with regards to NK would disable anything with modern electronics i.e. phones, cars, radios, medical systems.

A nuke detonated 300 miles above NYC would disable every motor vehicle between Boston and D.C.  The roads would be clogged for months. Millions would starve. 

truth said:

I have to wonder if the North Korean and the United States military are planning on using EMP weapons, defensively and offensively, to try to co-opt North Korean nuclear options / US attacks on launch sites. The existence of untried, but theoretically devastating, technology like this may encourage action over diplomacy. The US created EMP weapons and Russia was reported to have supplied this technology to North Korea a decade ago as a defensive technology. 

I haven't seen much discussion but if the North Koreans set off  (on accident or purpose) a nuke anywhere above the Western Pacific the EMP could be catastrophic. 

How things have changed. For us, not foe the better.

I wrote this comment in another thread:

Discussion: Trump's UN speech

So it escalated to the two nuts calling each other nuts.

North Korea: Trump and Kim call each other mad

Having seen the cultural revolution, I would never have then thought that China would be the rational one. And yet, here we are:

China responded to the war of words, warning that the situation was "complicated and sensitive". "All relevant parties should exercise restraint instead of provoking each other," said Foreign Minister spokesman Lu Kang.

And who would ever have thought that we'd be in a position where our Generals are regarded to be more trustworthy than our elected President.

Poll: Far more trust generals than Trump on N. Korea