Which has consequently been drawing closer ever since. Probably the best time to resume it, at least from South Korea and the Wests perspective, was after the Sino-Soviet split but before Detente, or at least before Chinas economic and military resurgence. Alternatively, we should have ended it once and for all back in 1950, when the only other nuclear power on Earth was a Soviet Union whose nuclear weapon (or weapon) were not even as old as North Koreas now.

The thing is, North Korea placed their bets long long ago, probably before the armistice: They answered the classic "bombs vs. butter" question emphatically and exclusively in favor of the former. As a result, North Korea has grown ever more impoverished alongside an ever wealthier South Korea, and that just cannot continue indefinitely. South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced nations on Earth and Seoul among the wealthiest cities; North Korea has a growing problem with starving unemployed refugees fleeing across the border, not just to South Korea, but to CHINA. Imagine how grim things must get before people begin to see China as a beacon of freedom and prosperity.

North Koreas economic development model is "extort Western food and fuel rather than produce our own," which, once again, cannot continue indefinitely. Either South Korea, Japan and the US get sick of it, tell them to bring it on and end the confrontation once and for all, or their subservience and North Koreas arms both build until the North decides it need no longer demand but can physically TAKE what it needs from South Korea. Either way, all roads lead to war. That really sucks, but leaves no question but how, not IF, South Korea wants the inevitable war. Unfortunately, North Korea ca. 2013 often looks an awful lot like Munich ca. 1937.