North Korea; On The Brink
While the US begins bipartisan action to tighten the sanctions on Russia as the nominal repercussions for alleged election meddling, it has likewise turned it's attention toward the DPRK in a supposed attempt to curtail aggression by the nation which has never once invaded its neighbors, unlike the US itself with military bases scattered across the globe, and a military budget larger than the next 8 nations combined. To citizens of North Korea, nuclear armament means survival. Kim Jong Un has observed the US topple governments, and involve themselves in countless regime change wars and battles for oil in the middle east. He is well aware of the gigantic nuclear arsenal housed here of 6,800 warheads and to him, it is itself provocation to suggest that the DPRK should not have equal access to these implements of defense.
It is of great misfortune that the day after the DPRK's national media authors a scathing critique of American nuclear-powered imperialism that the US decides on these sanctions, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff claiming that Trump will only give diplomacy "a few more months". Granted it must be remembered that diplomacy has not been attempted yet. South Korea, on the other hand is pleading with the DPRK to consider diplomacy, a move directly opposed by Sec. of State Rex Tillerson in March. Any rejection of international diplomatic negotiations may prove to be unwise, as the New York Times reports that North Korea may be technologically prepared for a nuclear attack within a year. Reportedly, Kim Jong Un is much more confident in his military's preparedness, already warning the US that any act of aggression or imperialism will result in nuclear war.
