Good article, thank you.

I am not overly impressed. All those lovely missiles need targeting data, and while I don't know the details of the North Korean sensor system, without help from China or Russia, I suspect it is nearly non-existent. And he has a long way to go to reach blue water ability. That requires logistical support. When/if that starts building, there's a problem.

Several articles I read said Kim's speeches referred to "nuclear deterrence." The ship could be capable of launching nuclear ballistic missiles, and the threats seemed to go that way. "Attack me, and this ship will nuke you." He would then be planning to have it sit off "somebody's" coast, hoping it intimidates, thus gaining him some leverage. One ship--while concerning--is not likely to, but if he actually does grow numbers of these, a small armada of them would cause a credible threat in a number of situations.

The ship itself doesn't impress me. The program it represents, and the place it aims to reach, does bother me, however. It would bother me less if I thought our own Navy had its act together. It is in disarray at the moment, which seems to be worsening, not improving.

The good news is that I am an old fart, and will be dead soon enough. "Long term" for me these days is a decade, lol. If it will all just hang together some for about that much, I will manage. I go day to day. No particular point in worrying what comes after.