This is it, my guesses on personal safety, because I was feeling unmotivated today. I won’t post anything else on the matter unless something changes. Additionally: It seems I misheard something. North Korea currently only has the missile range only to hit Alaska, and not the rest of the continental US. My apologies for causing any alarm.
While North Korea is escalating war talk, they seem to be withdrawing their troops. This could mean that they’re just blowing off steam… again. It could also mean that they’re moving to a defensive. Either way, it doesn’t look like they really want to invade.
I’m… pretty perplexed, actually. They could be trying to get China to pull back sanctions.At a guess, I’d say the new leader still doesn’t have his people’s confidence, so he intends to remind them of just how powerful and feared their nation is.
(source)
This image, likely intended for domestic propaganda, shows a planned flight path to the US. None of these targets are currently in range, however a missile currently being developed may be able to hit all but the most distant. (And overlay shows that it’s Washington DC. Keep calm, Mr. President.) The more realistic targets: LA, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, and Honolulu, shown by the overlay, are not currently at risk.
Still, it’s not as though the risk for a conflict does not exist.
(source)
Noting that there is still a risk, a recent article by the BBC posted an image estimating that Alaska is, theoretically within range. This seems to be the most used estimate available to the public.
Currently in development is the Taepodong 3 missile (source), which would have the ability to hit the western half of the United States. The North seems to be gearing up for another missile test, but until it’s confirmed that they are testing the Taepodong 3 missile, most of America has no reason to worry.
North Korea has made no mention of an intent to attack nations other than South Korea and the United States, therefore I will not be addressing any other countries.
If you live in any South Korean city, Seoul especially, you’re probably already aware of all this. In case you’re not, the maximum yield of North Korean nuclear weapons is slightly less than half that of the “little boy” dropped on Hiroshima. (estimate of little boy capacity) (previous NK nuclear test)
It still isn’t confirmed whether that previous test was actually nuclear or simulated. For comparison, the one before it — confirmed nuclear — tested a bomb with a maximum yield of roughly half that of the 2013 bomb.
Using guesswork, because I’m not familiar with the science behind it, and a little help from PBS (LOOK IT HAS A KIDS SECTION), the maximum destructive area of a North Korean warhead would be about 40 miles (~65 km) (of lethal radiation). Note that I assumed a logarithmic increase in yield to potency, about double the potency for each order of magnitude.
If someone knows their weapons and I’m way off, please correct me.
65 kilometres outside city limits, for our purposes, will be considered a “safe zone”.
If you live in any population centre in Alaska or South Korea, I urge you to continue reading.
Mod: What he (I) said.
*Continues to snipe followers.*
