States don't exist in a vacuum, they exist in a complex web of relations to other states. North Korea is in a particular intersection between South Korea, the U

States don't exist in a vacuum, they exist in a complex web of relations to other states. North Korea is in a particular intersection between South Korea, the United States, Russia and China. I think if you do anything with NK, you also signal something to these others. If you look at it like this, it becomes apt to say "poking the bear".