North Korea declares War on South Korea

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Um... once NK tore up the armistice, they were at war... This is nothing new

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

They're not declaring a new war, they're saying a state of war exists... which it has since 1950. I'm not saying its not concerning - but it's a bit like a government taking about a policy like it's new when it's already part of the platform.

If he does ANYTHING it's for internal consumption - it might be a game, but it's one he can't win.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I know I sound paranoid here, but could this potentially lead to a draft?

You do... and no.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The only problem with escalation having to lead somewhere (a la 1914) is that it requires both coming from a place of relative strength... most sensible analysts stress that this would be 'suicidal' for NK.

Part of this could be trying to get South Korea and the US to blink and attack... perhaps thinking they'd pull China in on their side.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

These things get nasty when people overreact... not when they don't.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The North WANTED some sort of South/US action to justify itself. The US/Japan/South Korea are doing EXACTLY what they should be doing, taking "in case of emergency" precautions, and otherwise... nothing.

The North (despite what some suggest) knows what the consequences of any kind of large-scale attack on Seoul would be... total annihilation. You can spout what they have, but there's no indication they actually know how to use them, let alone, use them to any effect. 

You know how all of these small things explode into world-changing catastrophes, WWI, the Great Depression... people panicked and didn't know the power of doing nothing.