I've had more comforting news:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a frontline military detachment, state media reported, and reminded troops of their duty to fight a "sacred war" against any provocation by South Korea. ...
"He ordered the servicepersons ... not to miss their golden chance to deal at once deadly counter-blows at the enemy if even a single shell is dropped on the waters or in the area where the sovereignty of the DPRK is exercised," KCNA said of Kim's guidance to his Democratic People's Republic of Korea troops.
Kim also said the Korean People's Army should then "lead the battle to a sacred war for national reunification, not confining it to a local war on the southwest region", KCNA reported.
These are the same units that bombarded a South Korean island back in 2010.
This is hardly reassuring under the circumstances, either:
China's President Hu Jintao on Friday met the powerful uncle of North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un, in a clear show of support for the impoverished ally as it takes tentative steps to rebuild its shattered economy.
I find it hard to believe that The Un believes that expanding a clash to a general war along the DMZ achieves more than him being strung by his heels from a lamp post when the dust settles, but you never know.
I suspect that given the consensus that any further North Korean aggression will be met with a big South Korean retaliation on the offending units, that Kim is just trying to bolster the resolve of the units that would be ordered to strike South Korean territory by making them think they won't be hung out all by their lonesome to face massive retaliation.
If I was in the South Korean military and was stationed near North Korean forces, I'd make sure my shelter was dug deep with solid overhead cover--and nearby. Just in case.
Hell, If I was in the North Korean military based in their southwest, I'd do the same, I suppose.
