Obama: North Korea 'Grave Threat'

(CBS)  South Korea's president is a hard liner, saying under no circumstances can North Korea be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin reports that President Obama took just as hard a line today.

In the Rose Garden Tuesday, President Obama said "I don't think there's any question that would be a destabalizing situation that would be a profound threat to not only the United States security but to world security."

General James Cartwright, the American military's number two man, told a Senate committee that North Korea is still years away from being able to launch a missile that could hit the west coast of the United States.

"This is not scientific, but we're dealing in at least another 3 to 5 years minimum," Cartwright said during questioning by Sen. Evan Bayh, a Democrat.

The long range missiles North Korea has tested so far could reach Alaska and Hawaii.

In an exchange with Sen. Bayh, Cartwright said he would tell the President the chances of shooting them down are excellent.

"What are the percentages that we're going to be able to hit it and bring it down? What would you tell him," asked Bayh.

Cartwright responded, "90 percent plus."

The more immediate threat is that North Korea might sell nuclear or ballistic missile technology to a country like Iran or even a terrorist group like al Qaeda.

The U.N. Security Council passed sanctions giving the U.S. and other navies the authority to confront but not board any North Korean ship suspected of carrying arms. North Korea's response has been to continue preparations to launch more missiles.

To which President Obama said "belligerent, provocative behavior that threatens neighbors will be met with significant and serious enforcement of sanctions that are in place."

[wdh3007]

When NK shot up the missiles this president stood back and did nothing it didn't affect him so he didn't care. By not acting in essense he is agreeing with their dictator who is the real problem not the people. By his very own inaction he is giving the ok to both regimes of North Korea and Iran because both countries pose a threat to it's neighbors that we do business with. If South Korea is destroyed or bombed this president will have those people's blood on his hands and if Israel is destroyed or bombed by Iran he will have committed a grave injustice by not acting in one of our closest allies interests. If this lack of action and passivity keeps up this man will be over by mid term elections becuase even his own democratic party won't be able to side with his own socialistic views of how his America should be.

[Aldymac]

All N K has to do is place one nuke of a good size over the center of the U S to reduce this countrys communications to what they were in the 1800s, that one round placed high enough and center enough would create a electro magnetic pulse, EMP, it would wipe out ALL electronic and telecommunications systems in this country. Our military knows this but our military genious who is also the president isn't worried about it, hes got everything all figured out.
The key to liberal thinking is this, blame it all on Bush, that is the best defence this administration has against any attack on this country. That is why they want to stop all development of new missle defence systems, they already have the best defence system they can think of.
Just like letting Iran get its nukes, all the dems have to do is let N K go ahead with its development then when the time comes they will issue harsh words, that'll really put N K in a scared mode, same with Iran, let hillary scare'em. What do we have to worry about, the Dems are in charge.

[vietnamwar]

We have been work for Diplomats for many years, it time to wipe out NKorea.

[erasmus111]

NK is nothing and we would wipe it off the map and they know it.

by SilentCowboy June 16, 2009 5:20 PM PDT

I don't think that whacko running the country gives a rat's ass whether you can wipe them of the map or not. He only cares about getting his hit in first. Don't expect a lunatic to have common sense.

[gravyboat3000]

by SilentCowboy June 16, 2009 5:20 PM PDT
America the Welfare Warfare state continues to look for war. When in reality this is just Government looking to instill fear among its people to control the masses with nuke's. NK is nothing and we would wipe it off the map and they know it. However it works great through out the ages.

Yes, we could blow North Korea off the map. But, who would they hit first? Or, are you talking about a pre-emptive strike?

So, "war mongering", is your solution?