>Although Pyongyang’s decision-making often appears ad hoc and short sighted, in fact, the North Koreans view the world strategically and from a long-term persp

>Although Pyongyang’s decision-making often appears ad hoc and short sighted, in fact, the North Koreans view the world strategically and from a long-term perspective. I feel like this statement, which I agree with, is incompatible with NK preparing for war, because short/medium term, leadership knows they'll get stomped in full confrontation. Unless they're riding on PRC treaty or some recent development with RU in security realm, which I doubt RU can honor since they're... busy... except for maybe some nuclear umbrella coverage until NK builds up their arsenal. IMO Un has been pretty diligent retooling their defense industry, their missiles just got used in UKR, it's mediocre, but it's proven. They're doing as well as can be expected under Juche, and now with increased RU dependency, they have some leverage in terms of importing energy and calories, which they didn't have from PRC whose only import from NK is good behavior. RU NOW benefits from NK agigating SKR and JP. Another skirmish or large incident like Cheonan perhaps. Or imagine degrading Samsung electronics whose market cap is multiple times NK GDP. Or a few battery chem plants. Most of SKR is strategically threatened after NK moves from mass artillery with limited range to rockets that can reach every point. Pain NK can inflict with good enough missiles is disproportional. Which is not good for SK being import AND export dependant to exist and be comfortable.