[cba123]

I’m not sure, but it appears to me, that Kim just blinked.

I thought we were heading toward a conflict, with Guam as the trip-point.

Now Kim has apparently said, North Korea will (not) be targeting a missile toward Guam.

Just a small item, but seems significant. Markets seem to think so.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well it is still within the historical pattern of N. Korea. The important point is how far they will move from here. Unless followed by significant movement to the resolution, this would be no better than stalling tactics N. Korea and China used so many times in the past.

The difference is that N. Korea is much closer to the finish line than it used to, and the stakes are far larger. The extent of sanctions China is reportedly applying to N. Korea is still lukewarm. Yes, more items are banned for import from N. Korea, and probably additional pressure on some Chinese factories to stop using N. Korean workers. But that would be far short of meaningful sanction. How much do we have to appease China to close down oil shipment even for a few days? For now, there is no indication of China even thinking about it.