This April North Korea sub sunk a South Korean ship for no apparent reason. Was North Korea trying to provoke a war with the South? If not, for what possible reason would they perpetrate that unprovoked attack.
A possible reason N.K. would start a war with the South is that their economy is so hopeless, that they think that their only hope is to absorb the industrial capability (wealth of the South), via war.
If not, what was the purpose of the attack?
The reason for the attack, is a combo of a few things most likey ( lets face it we may never realy know..)
1. you attack and sing sub...South has no choice but to react along with US in a aggressive way....What is the natural reaction of a nation when attacked? Think America pre Sept 11...and how it was months after...the change in thoughts...All of the sudden those who said Bush sucked...backed of, the flag flys all over...and the people ask what can we do to help ready to listen to anything ...( and buy anything ...Iraq WMD Evidence was not questioned like it would have been pre sep 11)....
The mindset is set now, the econ is on back burner....you could be invaded! War! the Imprerialst are going to take what little you have and kill you!....Now your the leader, sick, and need your kid to take over...the military is not 100% backing this ...one can be sure some on top would like to take over...and some are at best unsure about it....But in the face off all this, they tend to back off comments, less likey to want to push for anyone else as to weaken the nation while ready for war....
And now the stage is set, to push things you would have had harder time with before, and the people will not question...they are distracted....
and really what did he lose? He knows the South will not invade over it, or even launch a small attack....And for all the problems created....just more reason to point out, the Evil South and America are crushing trade and your econ...they are at fault not me.
Make no Mistake, he is not well in the head, prone to crazy ideas ( and more crazy propaganda) but he does not want a full war, he knows its the end of him and his government, and will lose...But with small strings, followed by threats of massive retaliation...he knows he can get away with it.