Tension is building in the Korean Peninsula. The US threatens to attack North Korea because of missile tests. North Korea, or any other country for that matter, has the right to test their missiles. So North Korea has been testing its missiles. The response must be, so what?

North Korea is isolated by the West and not by the rest of the world. So, western sanctions are not life threatening. It is very independent where as South Korea, more developed and relatively prosperous, is not. South Korea is occupied by the US. The US has military bases there, and 28,000 troops on the border with North Korea. Also, anti-Americanism is rather well developed in South Korea.

President Trump has said that if China does not take care of North Korea, the US will. This is bluster. If the US attacks, the North Koreans would fight back. The US just tested MOAB, the mother of all bombs, in Afghanistan. A powerful weapon, but North Koreans are showing no fear.  Why? In war, North Korea would destroy US forces there. Seoul would be wiped out. South Korea would be massively damaged. The US would have to go nuclear. North Korea would respond in kind, hitting Japan and US forces there. China would interfere. Nobody would win. A destructive stalemate would develop. Three countries would be destroyed: North and South Korea, possibly Japan. Also, US forces in Korea would be massively damaged or destroyed. Korea is a sideshow. Lots of thunder and very little rain. The real action will be the Ukraine, Syria-Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and any other hot spot that develops.

It is quite possible that the US would lose its teeth and lower jaw in total war with North Korea. Also, South Korea may rebel against US occupation. It would be truly ironic, if South Korea bolts. There are many ironies in History.