@POOHEAD189

Yes, this I am aware of, but my point is that even if he attempted to act, his actions are unlikely to be as drastic as people are making them out to be. The level of "drastic" he is capable of is measurably less powerful than that of the old superpower or its modern legacy. In addition, the hardline stances like those of the United States, that of which is no longer taking his rhetoric or behavior as acceptable, are likely to change his behavior; the consequences are clear cut.

@POOHEAD189

Yes, this I am aware of, but my point is that even if he attempted to act, his actions are unlikely to be as drastic as people are making them out to be. The level of "drastic" he is capable of is measurably less powerful than that of the old superpower or its modern legacy. In addition, the hardline stances like those of the United States, that of which is no longer taking his rhetoric or behavior as acceptable, are likely to change his behavior; the consequences are clear cut.

With the unfortunate knock-on effect of bringing America into the fray. South Korea and Japan being America's allies and all.

The exact reason such an attack at this stage would be very ineffective.

@The Harbinger of Ferocity I don't think anyone is arguing that North Korea is a bigger threat than the Soviet Union. People are arguing that Kim Jong Un is less stable of a ruler than most Sovier Rulers, and is far more likely to do something drastic.

<Snipped quote by The Harbinger of Ferocity>

Right and furthermore they have no incentive to ever launch such an attack, they are interested in deterrence. There is no world in which North Korea wins a war once one breaks out.

<Snipped quote by POOHEAD189>

He's more or less just as stable as the guy who was the first to spread the red plague, the guy who wanted to make soldiers fuck apes and vice versa to make super soldiers, or (a personal favourite) the guy who smashed his shoe on a table at a conference telling people what would be translated to showing the West "Kuzma's mother" (though the joke/metaphor would be hard to understand without speaking Russian or Ukrainian/Belarusian like Kruschev) and many more shenanigans of Soviet leaders.

@Penny

No one can humble brag quite like a pizza loving girl on the internet.

Learn from her.

I don't mind if he stays in power (hell from an economic perspective, I much prefer it that way and you should too) [...] I really don't want to have to topple the Kim dynasty, that would be really really super bad (for everyone NOT starving to death in the DPRK).

<Snipped quote by mdk>

I'm not saying you're wrong or anything, just wondering, but why is it better for our economy if North Korea keeps it's current power structure?

I doubt either side will actually do anything beyond continue to make empty threats. The only difference between then and now is that it's no longer one-sided on North Korea's part.