I wonder if the Norks realize that with today’s advanced weaponry, the destruction from a new war would be far worse than the destruction from the first war. Seoul would suffer serious damage, but Pyongyang would be turned into a smoking crater.
“but Pyongyang would be turned into a smoking crater.”
Can you see Obama ordering the bombing of North Korea? I can see a sharply worded diplomatic note about the destruction of Seoul. I can see an extended aid package for the North. But no bombing.
But even with "warmongering republicans" in office, we always exercise as much restraint as possible and the N.Koreans know it. The scenario you describe would only happen if Ender Wiggin were in office (which would be awesome by the way). With Obama the most he would do is threaten them with sanctions... which is kind of like threatening to threaten someone.