To look at media reports, Seems like noone really cares if NK tests! The world has seen almost ZERO nuke tests in the last decade. (Except maybe the Indian nuclear tests in 1998, and later Pakistani ones). Does anyone remmebber the furore there was over those? SO how come NK doesnt arouse any interest?
Besides, N. Korea would love to share its know-how with other like-minded partners. N. Korea will always to find a way to draw attention of U.S. and force it to make a deal they want. U.S. recognition of N. Korea along with U.S. security guarantee of NK's regime and economic assistance. And removal of all U.S. troops.
In essence, they want U.S. to choose N. Korea over S. Korea.
This doesn't mean that NK would dismantle its nuke program when it gets what it wants. NK will keep it anyway.
It would be interesting to find many so-called conservatives who think they can solve N. Korean nuke problem by dismissing it. Is it because they want to cover up for Hill-Rice-Bush debacle on N. Korea? Or simply because they are reality-challenged libertarians? Or is just Foggy Bottom speaking?
O can't allow this to derail his domestic policies. Anything short of the world burning will only be ignored, and everyone knows it.