The rhetoric is indeed different and borderline insane, but it is just rhetoric. These threats have been around to varying degree for fifty years, and their intensity following the assumption of power of a 27 year-old looking to consolidate power is no surprise. It appears that the DPRK is doing everythng it can to sound and act like a nation about to strike, without actually being so.
There have been some very deadly attacks from the DPRK in the past. They've downed an airliner, they've attacked U.S. and ROK troops in the DMZ and they've launched suicide commando raids attempting to kill the ROK president. The shelling of the 'disputed' island a while back was a stronger action than any of the threats in their state press over the last week.
They are a dangerous nation, to be sure. Even a fairly quick and total victory over them still could cost a terrible amount of civilian lives in Seoul. I don't think a shooting war is imminent as it stands. They are not insane, they are simply desperate and making a play for what they want as always. If, however, the Civilian Reserve Airfleet is activated to evacuate U.S. civilians from the ROK and we start hearing about civil defeans preparations in Seoul and Tokyo, then it's time to worry.
Very good point indeed.
On the other hand, I’m starting to get this really weird feeling... I’m reminded about the idea of a magician using one hand to distract and the other to pull off the trick.
In other words, Something elsewhere is about to get pulled off. Where? Who knows, in today’s world it could be just about anywhere, China, Africa, Middle East, heck even the EU and the White House are suspect.
As someone once said, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that the bullets flying past your head weren’t meant for you.