[DIRTYSECRET]

Face saving in Asian cultures is important. Kim is not giving himself much wiggle room. The Nork population is unaware of the war games. They are living in a closed society. It’s the Nork generals whose opinions count. Perhaps Kim is afraid of them.

[xrmusn]

Face saving in Asian cultures is important. Kim is not giving himself much wiggle room
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True but in ‘true Devils Advocate’ mode, how would WE react if Nork/China/Russia were holding live fire drills?

The ‘excuse’ they were in the plans is not realistic (even though true) as picking up the phone could/would cancel them.

Phone works FAST...ask McNamara/LBJ how long it took the Jets that were dispatched to save the USS Liberty (AGR-5) while under attack from the Israelis in 1967 to be ordered back to their ‘home’, USS America (CV-66)

[Antoninus]

It’s the Nork generals whose opinions count. Perhaps Kim is afraid of them.

No, actually, the only opinion that matters is that of Beijing. We need to stop thinking of North Korea as an independent nation. They're not. They are a puppet.