this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2026
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I think the simpler explanation is that NK has nukes, so any US surface ships in the vicinity are just missile bait in a war. Trump can get away with doing things normal politicians can't, so his advisors told him how 'respectful' Kim was being and got him to move the ships to a place where they might still have some utility.
This started not this week but months ago when they removed the THAAD defensive interceptors; not because they were "missile bait". They literally shipped them to Israel because they were running out of defensive interceptors there. They did this without any say or knowledge from the South Korean government until. They were told after the fact.
I don't disagree with your "simpler explanation". You're saying the same thing I said but removing the material reasons for why this is happening now. The THAADs have been there for 10 years. They were removed for a reason. The right wing military coup in South Korea failed and a more left leaning (for SK) government is in power. There are multiple material reasons for why the US is abandoning SK. The US was forced to remove THAADS, demanded submission to the empire with SK military support as it's people rightfully were upset. Trump wanted that submission in response to his sudden removal of the THAADs. They didn't get submission. So they are trying to get it through fear. The US hopes to stoke fear to move the SK government to the right (similar to Japan).
And if we've learned anything from the Iran war it's not specific weapons or military games that make other countries "missile bait". It's allowing US military bases in ones country and becoming a missile spunge for Israel.
Any country with US military bases right now should see them as a threat to their national security. Because you become the target when the US starts an illegal war of aggression.
Oh yes, the war with Iran is probably the immediate cause.
I don't think this is realistic at this point. Compared to Japan, South Korea is a lot more economically dependent on China. Forcing them to choose a side could very likely result in them aligning with China (or becoming neutral).
I agree. I think it's desperation. I don't think it will work.