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While some may be quick to downplay the remarks by Kim Jong Un, all those false alarms may act to make the South Koreans or us to be complacent about the possibility of an attack. We can't afford to let our guard down for a second. Each of these actions by the north could also have been a way to test us to see how far they can go without there being a retaliatory strike. So far, a lot has happened without that strike occurring. We have to be preparred to act quickly, because if we do not it will be seen as a sign of weakness by the north and may very well embolden them to launch a larger attack. It could then escalate out of control extremely quickly.

How about we at least begin a process to disengage ourselves from entangling alliances with other countries (as George Washington warned us about in the 18th century), including this agreement with South Korea? The last thing the US needs is involvement in another conflict on the other side of the world. South Korea is a wealthy country that is perfectly capable of defending itself. Why are we spending US tax dollars to keep our armed forces stationed there?

Either the Korean Peninsula is vital to our national security or it is not. If it is, it doesn't matter how wealthy or impoverished South Korea may be, we need a military presence there. I would say a rogue regime bent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction on the other side of the 38th parallel is a strong argument for such a presence. Constitutionally it would come under the heading, "provide for the common defence." We can discuss how large it should be or how much our allies should help, but we need to have it. (And in spite of the grave situation, I can enjoy North Korea's amusingly childish rhetoric.)

How old is the boat in that photo?? Evidently no motor either. Kim Jong Un has to have his underlings push the dang thing. A joke I heard: to stop a war with the North, all South Korea needs to do is spread out a buffet table right along the border.

2009 just called and it wants it's Nobel Peace prize back.