>>The problem with that analysis is the U.S.and S Korea participate in joint military exercises every year and have at least since I was in the military. I hated them because it was so cold!

This year it's associated with UN sanctions to punish North Korea for conducting a nuclear test, imposed by a Security Council dominated by permanent members who are all nuclear powers themselves and one of whom invaded another country shortly after arranging this pattern for it. It's easy enough to see how a paranoid mind might react to that- and equally easy to give a cheerful grin and commit that there won't be a nuclear attack or invasion as part of the war games. Seems to me some people pretend to rear back in faux-fear and milk the characteristic overreaction for all it's worth.