European Union Forums

[Swift]

im so scared with everything thats going on with north korea and south korea.. Is this going to cause World War 3.
Are we all going to die if World War 3 happens?

[NancyDStrauss]

I understand what you're saying, in that if the war escalates too much Chine will aid the North and the US would aid the South, but I really wouldn't obsess about that too much. China's already trying to get some peace talks underway between them, and Kim Jong il may just be doing this to solidify his son's power and presence in taking over when he dies.

[GreatRuler]

I don't think world war 3 will happen, they have no allies and half of their population wants to leave and go over the border

[AlbertCCortright]

Take it easy. It is the Koreans who started shelling at each other. Why are you / we so worked up for this ?

[DonaldJWalden]

Okay okay calm down. First, learn to type in complete sentences so you can be a good role model for your daughter.

Second, North Korea and South Korea will not go to war. North Korea doesn't want to go to war, because they know it will lead to their demise, among other things. They want to keep China happy, and right now China is NOT happy. China being happy is the entirety of North Korean Foreign policy. That, and making the current dictator look like he has massive balls.

South Korea doesn't want war because of all the artillery the North Koreans have pointed at Seoul. If it comes to war, everyone/everything in Seoul is dead in a matter of hours.

The U.S and China don't want war either. China doesn't want to get dragged into a diplomatic incident with its communist buddy, especially when it's slowly moving away from communism itself. The U.S sees its alliance with South Korea as a liability (maybe too strong of a word, more like a potential hazard). Yes, it sent an aircraft carrier. But it's just saber rattling. We don't want a pissed off China, anymore than China wants a pissed off us.

Okay, finally. If it comes to war, no one will be shooting nukes but the North Koreans. And those don't even work correctly. And the U.S will not get invaded. Why? We have two oceans.

[FreeMan]

Anything could set off World War 3 but this situation probably wont do it.

Now on to your second question will we die if WW 3 happens - well that depends. Now obviously a lot of people will die but it depends what type of war it would be. The main assumption is that it would be an all out Nuclear War.

First of all after a nuclear bomb has been dropped you get the heat and blast depending on how many "megatons" usually people who live within a 5 mile radius will die instantly. In a situation like that they will be the luckiest ones.

Others outside that area will be likely be trapped under rubble and/or suffering burns and other injuries.Some of those may die but it will likely take a little longer.

Depending on the type of shelter you have, around 24-48 hours afterwards radiation sickness may set in now the symptoms of that and panic are the same in the inital stages .i.e vomiting diarrhoea. In the days after there will be bleeding (gums,nose etc) and other symptoms depending on the severity that in itself will probably kill you. I think it takes around 4 weeks for deaths to reach their peak.

If you have survived all of that and you don't end up being murdered for the last bit of food you have then you're probably going to live a little longer. But that radiation will likely be working away at your cells and finally the last thing most likely to kill you up to a year or even a few years later would be cancer.

Now you see why those who die first are the lucky ones, right?. All very grim and at some point either now or in the future it may well be a reality that we have to face.

[LaurieBCollins]

Not to worry unless the US troops cross into North Korea. China only entered the Korean War when US troops were at the border with China. China will support the overthrow of North Korea now, because the North is working on nuclear material and selling it to the Middle East. China has problems with Muslims just like we do and is annoyed that North Korea is selling them missiles and soon nuclear material allowing them to nuke China. China WANTS North Korea gone! South Korea is a key trading partner with China along with the US and would never jeopardize that. However, there are hardcore, old Chinese military generals who remember the Korean War and want an all out war with America, but they probably realize our military is still a couple decades beyond theirs. They need more time to catch up.

Right now is the perfect time for the South to invade the North. If they do not invade now, the North will develop nukes, sell them to Iran, and Iran will sell them to terrorists who will set them off in the US and we can all blame that on the US failure to support a South invasion of the North NOW! The North is weak. Their soldiers are malnourished and their families are suffering. They will surrender easily. The South just has to worry about an artillery attack on Seoul, but they need US air power to knock out those artillery guns pre-emptively. Many South Koreans will be killed, but if they wait, millions will die in a nuclear attack. It's now or never folks.

Russia would never interfere either. They are making a killing selling oil to China, the US, and South Korea. It's all about the money these days. Communism is dead.

[LarryIBynum]

The only way World War 3 can begin is if China and Russia also get involved.
With recent news of wikileaks saying that China is ready to isolate North Korea, it doesn't look like a war is on the table, not a new World War anyway unless North and South Korea start attacking oneanother.
However, if Iran decide to get involved then this will mean Israel taking advantage and attacking Iran.
And Russia has already said that an attack on Iran is an attack on them since they are allies with Iran. Then if Israel is attacked America will surely poke their noses in like always and attack pretty much everyone.

And yes you probably will die like half of the world's population if ever there was a nuclear World War 3.

[Vigour]

No, China would not aid in the partial destruction of the U.S. China literally has BILLIONS invested in the United States in the form of bonds, they are not going to destroy their own investment. Odds are it wont escalate to a war and no we are not all going to die if WWIII happens, Nuclear Missiles cant reach Europe or U.S. (maybe Hawaii), relax the media is blowing this out of proportions like always.

[TrinidadMMorganti]

I hope so because all acts of war are just delightful, let there be blood.

[MaryRWebb]

Nah, don't worry about that. All this is just for a couple of reasons:

a) Kim Jong-il is trying to get his ministers to approve of his son, Kim Jong-un, so he can become legitimate succesor when Jong-il does die.

b) To squeeze even more aid out of the South and the USA

c) In protest to the military drills being carried out by the South and the US recently. The North wants to "show its might" to the World

But they're never going to have the guts to do anything, so don't worry They may be obsessed with power, but they're not stupid. They know when they're beat. They've asked for the six party talks (like negotiating discussions, wherein the USA, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and North Korea discuss the North's disarmament in exchange for aid) to resume. So you see, nothing should happen.