korea's a stalemate, this is just bluffing. but it goes back to what i was saying.

http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/721379

any movement at all by the south is going to lead to a chinese occupation. that's how this mess started in the first place. that's a strategic and historical boundary. any attack on north korea is an attack on china.

so, the americans won't do that.

conversely, any attack from the north is an attack on japan, which will activate a flurry of defense alliances.

nothing can move on the issue without sparking a war between the united states and china.

so, nothing will move on the issue.

what north korea actually is is a buffer state.

they know they can squeeze some concessions out by being naughty...

...but, despite the rhetoric, the truth is that the situation is very stable and in no threat of changing any time soon.

and if some drunk general in north korea gets an ego trip or something? chinese occupation before the americans can blink. they won't have to take him out. the chinese will do that themselves.

that's spheres of influence again.