In all honesty, I do not think you need to do anything different then you may (should? ) be doing now.

In all war situations, if you are not subject to an invasionary force certain supplies become limited and expensive. Make sure you have adequate stocks of basics. Make sure you have adequate stocks of sugars (I do not consider them "basics" as we can live just fine without them - but they ARE considered a basic in MY house. Mmmmm, honey, maple syrup, molasses. Mmmm. Not a real fan of white sugar, but keep 50-60 lbs on hand.)

Issues with China or other countries? If that concerns you, just up your current acquisitions of any imported goods you currently use and anticipate needing to replace/repair in the near future.

 

We should be making sure we're well-stocked in water, food, heat/light/cooking fuel, health/medical, hygiene, and defense.

My view is that we should not be focused as much on specific events or scenarios as we should be focused on making sure we're well-prepped. You're going to need the above things in any scenario (possible exception: heat), so ensuring we have a good and balanced supply is essential. Get them in place first if not already supplied.

So we go to war....maybe NK can get off a nuke at us, maybe not. If it's a low-altitude burst, we have nuclear fallout to concern ourselves with. That implies evacuating if downwind from a plume of fallout, and perhaps laying in a supply of Potassium Iodide.

If NK could set off an EMP, then it's even more imperative to have the six categories above in place.

******************

THE one thing of which I've always found difficulty in laying in a long-term supply is fats and oils, i.e., the food kind. If I were really worried about this, I'd go to the grocery store and purchase several gallons of oil.

I have in place SPAM, Corned Beef, clarified butter, canned butter, a few other items high in fat, but it never seems like enough. My biggest wish as a prepper is for someone to figure out how to make oils and fats storable long term. Things like SPAM are indefinite, and the other items I listed have extremely long shelf lives, but a bunch of cooking oil would be a godsend.

 

Hmm. Very well posed question, thanks!

-prepare for global thermonuclear war? It is a very real possibility, however something IMO which can't be prepared for.

-resultant economic collapse? Another very real possibility (China has been in an economic war with us for what 50-60 years now, they strictly control there money, based on the dollar, to even further increase there profit margin).

That would be worth thinking on, how we as individuals might prepare to ride out an economic collapse 2ndary to war.

No debt/get as self sufficient or as efficient as possible. Look at your career if you work, and think on what might happen to your own industry during a collapse, perhaps gain other skills which may prove handy as a supplemental income, aside from weekend labor jobs.

Petroleum prices? Yup they'll always be volitile. Look towards efficiency/sufficiency to save $ there as well. Need to commute for work? You should allready be aware of ways to save on commute $ (car/vanpool, mass transit, multi model transit, beater commute vehicle with decent mileage). Many of the commute petro savings ideas will also save $ via lower maintenance & insurance costs on vehicles. Some also have markedly increased health benefits (Cycle commuted into Boston year round from the suburbs for years. At night. In all weather...including blizzards!).

So I guess in short, for us anyways, nothing particular to do in our day-to-day preparedness, special for this Korean thing...just keep mindful of real news and any immediate threat.

 

Other then continuing normal prepping operations there really isn't anything specific to "N K" to do.

I highly doubt the Chinese will crash our economy since their prosperity is directly linked to the US Dollar. The World doesn't run on the Yuan and couldn't convert overnight.

 

If there was ever a time to put the EMP things in that faraday cage, just in case, it would be now. Yes, an EMP would be far fetched, and whatever, but if there was a time, and just in case all the nasayers are wrong, you have this time to prepare for the worst case event, that we all talk about, but never want to happen. If you listen to the wrong person, that tells you that EMPs aren't that bad, your cars will still start, most things will still work, etc., and just by chance, they are wrong...

 

I wouldn't be booking any vacations to Pacific destinations. Guam, Hawaii, etc. Even if they were not attacked, would you want to be stranded if something did happen?

 

I know this is one i have been seriously debating recently. My company is offering me a very big pay raise to move to Hawaii for two years managing crews doing foam insulation on military housing. Im just getting real leary of being that far away from family and off the mainland. Its one hell of a career opportunity for me but not sure its worth the risk.

 

I'm getting ready for the hurricane and for open borders, higher taxes, and bigger government. Lil Kim pales in comparison to the threats we face every day from the denizens of the swamp and their media propagandists. I predict we shut down trade with China, they have a **** fit and then go over and remove Lil Kim. Nobody is going to be shooting off nukes any time soon.

 

Something good might actually come out of it. American companies that have outsourced everything to China might suddenly realize it maybe wasn't such a good idea.

China might nationalize/seize all America corp. assets in the country. That would really tank Walmart, and others.

Only hope that when that happens, the U.S. govt. doesn't bailout any of these companies that moved production to China. Like they did with the banks in 2008.

 

North Korea does not impress me on many levels,

But let's imagine they have about 100 uranium bombs on medium range missiles and about a dozen larger H bombs on real ICBMs. Also, imagine they use them all in a first strike attack against US Military Bases in the Pacific, several US cities and the US power grid, and South Korean and Japanese cities.

Yes, I we would level their entire country, but the would would still be left with the carnage. Kill off over half the population of both South Korea and Japan. Take out a dozen US cities and our power grid. Destroy most of the US Pacific fleet. China stays out of the exchange, and by the end of the day, they become the dominate naval power in the Pacific.

Great line from Hunting Red October, "This is going to get out of control, and we will be lucky to live through it."

 

You got it right sir.
I could tighten up your prose a bit though.
How about, 'Prepping for a nuclear war? Fergeddaboutit.
A bottle of scotch, a box of Depends, and a revolver with one round. That's prepping for a nuclear war.

 

Dig.
Keep digging.
Then dig some more.

 

If you dig far enough, you get to China :

... at least that's what my mother claimed when I dug this hole in the back yard shortly after I started school... duck and cover and backyard bunkers, oh my :

 

Keep prepping as usual, maybe add some extra iodine tablets. Basically just carry on.

 

I wonder if eclipse glasses are sufficient eye protection for atomic weapon? Solar lens protectors for taking some really interesting pix?

Better check to see if they were made in N Korea or China

 

Might be, but a bomb burst is short; and while you're waiting for it you can't see anything else, they're so dark.

 

Imho prepare for combat operations at home and abroad. The devil is coming to dinner without a proper invite,whether we want him as a guest or not!

 

Exorcism manual... check

 

WW2 as a kid

I'm old enough to remember WW2. I was a little kid ...

Anyway, there was rationing. All of my toys were made of wood because metals had to go to the war effort. There was no rubber -- thus no new tires for cars. There were no new cars. We had, perchance, a 1941 Pontiac, which remained the latest model until the war was over. We had chickens and hogs because there was no meat in the stores. Gasoline was rationed -- we had stamps indicating how much we could buy. Sugar and black pepper were hard to find.

We also had invasion drills, particularly blackouts, when all the electricity in town would be shut off and there would be searchlights sweeping the sky.

 

I'm old enough to remember WW2. I was a little kid ...

Anyway, there was rationing. All of my toys were made of wood because metals had to go to the war effort. There was no rubber -- thus no new tires for cars. There were no new cars. We had, perchance, a 1941 Pontiac, which remained the latest model until the war was over. We had chickens and hogs because there was no meat in the stores. Gasoline was rationed -- we had stamps indicating how much we could buy. Sugar and black pepper were hard to find.

We also had invasion drills, particularly blackouts, when all the electricity in town would be shut off and there would be searchlights sweeping the sky.

Not old enough for WWII, but close family members told me about:

Turning the car off and letting it free wheel downhill in neutral. Gas was the first thing rationed in Britain; sugar was first in the U.S..

And plane spotters, blackout curtains, air raids, victory gardens, boats in the English Channel to pick up the pilots, dodging falling and floating/subsurface debris. Running/walking/crawling away from unexploded bombs.

No nylons (or verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry expensive). Friends drawing lines down the back of friends' legs to simulate seamed stockings.

Sugar was rationed and hard to find. Butter, lard, bacon, bicycles, coal, heating oil, and firewood were rationed.

Lightbulbs were hard to find and expensive. Some kinds of soap.

Candles were used for both light and heat, but were hard to find and expensive.

Anything with a military use (not necessarily the ordinary/civilian use) was expensive and hard to find.

 

Think this time around we would see Japan more active in any Korean Peninsula conflict. Think we would also see Iran start behaving much more like NK while we are busy there. Personally feel Iran benefits / partners with NK in all this testing and provocation. Think we would see Iran quickly develop its on nuclear weapons, and start trying to spread themselves throughout the Middle East. This is the point you would see oil prices quickly peak.

 

Go for it Chuck C.

The chances that N.K. can hit Hawaii are pretty slim!

I prep financially as well as physically. That may be a good chance for you to do both.

Good luck.

 

I did purchase extra iosat, but am more concerned about ordinary people going batpoo if NK launches. There are already so many completely crazy over everything else they can imagine is threatening or unsafe and all the fault of POTUS alone, it could be a tipping point.

I'd like to see one of NKs tests backfire spectacularly, and take out Kim. I'm sure he runs and hides far away after his cackling bomb stroking photo ops though.

I did note a possible Arctic route to DC would have it passing right overhead, and considered what I could do if it fell short. I hope he's dealt with before it gets to that point.

 

aside from what everyone else posted, the basics, I am thinking more about scarcity of resources supplied by S. Korea.

I expect the stock market to dip but recover for the most part.

But SK exports to the US $12billion in automotive cars/parts, $26 billion in machinery, iron and steel, fuel, etc.

if they are hit and/or involved militarily in any ground action, I expect their economy to shift from exporting products to military, in addition to possible loss of manufacturing base in many areas.

what does that mean to us? more expensive TV's, electronics, vehicles-both parts and new models, as well as our own manufacturing lacking some resources. obviously we wouldn't be crippled, but I would expect consumer prices to increase pretty quickly for those things.

Personally, SK is our 3rd largest market for my employer. If we lost significant sales there, we would likely see additional lay offs and reduced compensation and bonuses.

this is what I worry about more than a hit on US soil based purely on my location.

China doesn't worry me a whole lot, they have much more to lose if they damage our trading relationship. Walmart may have empty shelves but Chinese manufacturers will be sitting on a glut of product with nowhere to dump it. Not to mention the vast amount of capital and assets they have invested in the US which would/could be frozen...

 

I think the crucial distinction is whether the war is over there only, or also over here.

 

How could the "war" be anywhere other than over there, except for possibly whatever missiles might happen to reach over here?

 

We have been looking for alternate routes to our property. We will preposition more food and supplies there over the next several trips.

I need to get a couple rolls of black 6 mil plastic, more staples for the staple gun, move some extra propane heaters and propane, top off kerosene, put our extra small fridge/freezer there, and preposition our extra generator. Then we will get busy!

We need to get our gas stores there squared away, too.

 

There is always the chance that North Korea just might get one or two nukes through since nothing runs 100 %, after all he knows we have a lot of firepower but for some reason he sure seems very confident, like he has an ace up his sleeve.

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that N.K., China and Russia have saboteurs here with their assignments already laid out and you can be sure it's going to be bridges, fuels, natural gas, electrical grid, water supply etc.

 

I do not scenario prep.

About all I do when this sort of stuff happens is I make a point of going over my plan for the eventuality of such events occurring, check related supplies and such, double check the BOB and GHB, and pay attention to the news.

One useful thing about watching stuff related to it (on news, whatever) is that occasionally they show preparedness related bits as per the discussed event. I watch those because some times they give me ideas or alternatives I can add to my own plans.

 

EMP is the worst threat ftom N K. Congress was delivered a very comprehensive assessment of the results of an EMP attack in 2008. They did nothing. We are vulnerable.
I believe that China would enourage NK to pop off a couple of nukes about 200 miles overhead. We know they have the capability. We would retaliate and possibly wipe out NK, but inside of a year, China could sail into California to help and just stay. We wouldn't have enough population left to stop them. In fact those that were still around would probably welcome the Chinese with open arms.

 

So the US now has 2 choices, wait for NK to kill millions of Americans, and potentially destroy the country by having a successful EMP attack that shuts down the grid and kills off most of the population. And then destroy NK completely and be totally justified.

Or destroy NK before it does anything and risk WWIII with China, and Russia, and civil war in the US because half the population would be very much against it.

I used to think I would wait until attacked first to retaliate, but if the first attack is powerful enough to destroy the country ( EMP) , maybe they just can't wait. I think it would depend on how confident the US military is to shoot down a nuke before it creates a EMP or how fast the grid can be protected against one.

 

Not much this Hillbilly can do. None of the available options are favorable.

China has little interest in resolving the "frozen conflict" between US and DPRK.

As is, the situation gives China outsized influence on US policy; economic and security levers with its competitors in ROK, Japan, and NE Asia, and a potential lever against India thru US. No downside for china in a limited US-DPRK nuke exchange, given the prevailing winds and recent example of Fukishima. There might be some potential upside for China if the US becomes a pariah for using nukes or restarting the war in korea.

This is only second order effects. Would need some help to work thru tertiary consequences.

There is no incentive for China to make meaningful intervention in DPRK.
They tinker around the margins to give the appearance of responsibility and cooperation. No real change, and no incentive to do so.

Two principle documents drive this

UN Security Council resolution 84 established US as lead nation, in execution of UNSCR 82 and 83.

Armistice agreement. Signed by US Commander as senior UNC representative, the DPRK commander, and Chinese People's Army Commander.

ROK is not an explicit party to armistice agreement, but China is.

Withdrawing from UNC changes the game completely. A necessary step in resolving the situation. It completely changes relative diplomatic power of the parties and redefines the realm of the possible...

Any serious US campaign against DPRK would be VERY costly, difficult and of uncertain outcome. That's the case with all war, though, and is not a good reason to avoid one.

There are lots of subtleties in this situation...some assertions that really require long explanation, then a course of action.

- half of ROK hates the US. Xenophobic response to 5000 years of foreign occupation and some jealousy.
- half of ROK loves China and half hates China. Economics and xenophobia for past occupation
-Japan and ROK have a quasi-alliance, battered wife syndrome.
-Same 5000 years of Japan and China fighting in Korea.
-China likes the situation exactly as is. They win no matter how it goes. China and India have troubles over resources and their respective Mohammadan minorities.
- Russia and China are not friends. They cooperate only to frustrate the US.
- Half of America hates America. The other half is old but no longer willing to sacrifice.
- American ground forces are no longer up to the task of serious ground war in complex terrain. Doctrine, material, and organization are all unsuited. Leadership skill in operational art is highly questionable above battalion level.
- Nuclear exchange is "unthinkable" for most Americans. Very problematic for the younger half that doesn't remember the Cold War and duck & cover. Changing this perception should be job 1 for political leaders in the coming highly proliferated world.

A way ahead that considers facts on the ground, so to speak...

1. US withdraws from United Nations Command for Korea. Declare that the 70 year armistice ends UN mandate.
2. US and ROK deploy nuclear deterrent on peninsula in response to DPRK abandonment of the Sunshine Non Proliferation agreement between the Koreans. This is aimed at DPRK.
3. US and Japan deploy nuclear deterrent in region. This is aimed at China, not DPRK.
4. US withdraws all non essential personnel from ROK and Japan. This tells everyone we're serious.
5. The usual naval deployments.
6. Civil defense drills on US west coast. Demonstrates resolve to DSPR. Also smokes out the US communists for what they are.

All these set conditions for either offensive or defensive war.

The time for preventive or pre-emptive action has passed.
DPRK now has the initiative.
Sanctions won't work. Too much money flows subversively from ROK and China to DPRK.

Our nation has done this before with USSR. Mutually Assured Destruction works.
DPRK won't abandon nukes because they saw the Libya example. We have few viable options. MAD, and showing a willingness to engage in real intercontinental war among nuclear powers is the most likely to succeed.

None of this is good news for a Libertarian small government guy.
It is however realistic and our best chance at national survival.
THAT'S the hand we've dealt ourselves in decades of appeasement.

First principles and facts can be a harsh mistress for the political crowd

Untangling the Gordian knot... probably with the sword of Damocles...

 

- half of ROK hates the US. Xenophobic response to 5000 years of foreign occupation and some jealousy.
- half of ROK loves China and half hates China. Economics and xenophobia for past occupation
-Japan and ROK have a quasi-alliance, battered wife syndrome.
-Same 5000 years of Japan and China fighting in Korea.

I freely admit my Asian History is a bit lacking, but "5000 years of occupation"? The first recorded "occupation" (if you want to use that word) was somewhere in the 200-500 BC range. And that was more of an "old family members are returning" than an occupation.

Where are you getting your info for 5K years? Or are you being facetious?

 

My concern would be, that it is decided to do something militarily, for political not military reasons.

That BECAUSE it is a political and public relations move, politicians who don't know one end of a rifle from another dictate to the military what they are to do, how they are to do it, and set impossible and irresponsible goals and objectives.

That as a result, we bungle military action horrendously, many people die unnecessarily, the US is criticized globally, our economy hits the skids, and we're involved in a land war or nation building in Asia for decades at a cost greater than the current national debt.

Because after all, that's what we seem to do, these days...

I don't know how you'd prep for that.

 

Homesteading, re-learn how to live the hard way.