Dear North Korea..

It's fun to watch you posture.

It does make many people nervous, but I don't think they really "get" you.  I think you huff and puff and the whole point in threatening and preening is to score some points at home.  After all, the thought of who might be on your side in an unprovoked attack narrows the field down to...well no other countries actually.  It's really too bad for you that you didn't discover some egregious military faux pas, like a sub stranded in your territorial waters, or South Korean soldiers sliding under the fence for some authentic BBQ beef.

If we look somewhat coldly at the facts, there's been no provocation, no recent event that you can point to, and little attention paid recently to you.  So what's changed ?  Why suck in your gut and inhale out your national chest right now..

Well I suppose there is the issue of succession, which probably doesn't sit right with some of your generals who may have had aspirations.  And Mr. Kim Jong-un (can I call you Kim ?) I imagine you do want to look good in front of the people...after all if it's seen clearly that you're a pimply faced, fat little man who has little talent, and isn't aggressive enough to be his father's son..well, I bet the prisons there aren't too sweet.

So if all this is to make yourself look imperial at home and unafraid of the big bad west, how much is enough ?  What exactly are you waiting for to concede that you've seen victory in this little war of posture.  That's the million won question isn't it.  Who in the west will make some public concession to you so that you can save face and stand down.

Therein lies the problem Kim.  You see without that initial cause to rally around, the one that the rest of us can highlight as the reason you were thrown a bone to shut-up, there's really little empathy for what you're doing.  It may just be too much this time.   When it's agreed it is too much - the payback won't come in the form of a carrier group steaming up the Sea of Japan flying the stars and stripes in the wind..no..the payback will be a messenger from Beijing and it'll be more painful for you personally.

It is fun to watch you posture Kim, but it's not entertaining for very long.

Signed,
Everyone