North Korea...suicidal, or attention whore?

[Jackalope]

Kim Jong Un is playing a very dangerous game here, and I strongly suspect he's bluffing (assuming for the sake of argument that he's actually capable of making good on his threat).

US policy is to respond in kind to nuclear attack. With the threat known, the US has undoubtedly already analyzed the situation, selected potential targets and the necessary yields to reduce them, and all that remains is for the orders to be given to arm and launch the birds.

Would the US actually follow through though? I think so. The nuclear deterrent is only a deterrent if one is actually willing to use the weapons in retaliation - should there be any doubt of that, the deterrent value of the US nuclear arsenal is substantially reduced in value. I can't see a situation where the US would allow a nuclear-armed rogue state to hold it hostage, particularly after said state launched a nuclear attack on the US or one of it's allies.

Kim Jong Un must know all of this, and therefore I can only conclude that he is bluffing - or insane.

Whether or not we respond in kind, the situation is a shit sandwich. Want that on wheat or rye bread?