It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

DPRK RATCHETS UP THE RHETORIC (again)

The North Korean party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, warned of the consequences if the United Staates seriously considered a pre-emptive strike on the nuclear complex, saying "a surprise attack on our peaceful nuclear facilities" would "spark a total war."

Making clear the potential of North Korea to wreak havoc on South Korea and possibly targets in Japan, the commentary said it would be "foolish for the United States to think that we sit idle with folded arms to wait until it gives orders" to initiate the attack.

The inference of the commentary was that North Korea might be the first to strike if the United States built up its forces in the western Pacific, as the Pentagon has indicated may well happen. The North Korean commentary appeared as a response to the disclosure that the United States is preparing to send two dozen bombers to Pacific bases while senior American officers have reportedly requested an aircraft carrier and additional troops to brace up the defense of South Korea.

The $64,000 question is whether the DPRK would really make good on its threats. I heard the argument today that in cases of small-scale conflicts--clashes with Japanese or ROK ships in disputed waters, for example--the DPRK has always backed away from escalating a confrontation. One can only hope that Kim Jong-il and company are not willing to take action that would most likely prove to be suicidal. They sure can talk that way though!