The War North Korea Wants
By T.S. Allen
September 19, 2017
No one is surprised anymore when North Korea threatens the United States and its allies. After nearly seventy years of incessant threats and provocations, their angry rhetoric is par for the course. Many think those threats are meaningless. According to the conventional wisdom, North Korea knows that America would certainly defeat it in a war and end that war by removing Kim Jong-un and his cronies from power. Since the North’s ultimate aim is “regime survival,” war with America is not in North Korea’s interest. “North Korea,” the standard line goes, “is not suicidal.” They may threaten, but they will never strike. Thus, North Korea’s recent provocations—including a sixth nuclear test, the launch of a ballistic missile over Japan, and repeated promises to fire missiles at the US territory of Guam—are alarming, but not designed as a prelude to war.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/09/19/the_war_north_korea_wants_112329.html
