>>>Let's let Condi Rice talk about "Mushroom clouds!"
>
>http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/kim-jonguns-terrifying-new-missiles-are-fake-and-were-wobbling-during-parade-experts-claim/news-story/002b72a9cd5d4db5bec31262cf17119b
>
>There's also a NK-published photo of Kim standing over a polished sphere claimed to be a miniaturized nuke, which must be true if that's what NK says it is. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/24/world/asia/north-korea-propaganda-photo.html
>
>Even if NK remarkably has managed to build weapons that can attack Guam or maybe Hawaii: as always, you need to ask "what's the motive." What's the motive for NK to attack Guam when they know very well what the US can muster in response? In fact, why would he want to provoke the US at all? Does their great leader really want to live out his days hiding in caves or compounds in sympathetic Pakistan until one day a team of experts takes him down? My take is that Kim's bluster is from a desperate need to impress the outside world and remind the domestic audience that Kim is divine leader of a major world power whose vast nuclear arsenal will instantly swat down any foe foolish enough to get on their mighty nerves.
>
>As for Trump's response: Kim makes extravagant threats; Donald replies equally extravagantly and satisfyingly for Kim who longs to be taken seriously. If you judge a man by his enemies, then Kim is mighty indeed. Honor assuaged, hopefully everybody now can settle down and re-connect with real life. In particular, NK now faces sanctions that will dimish its ability to source manufactured machinery at all, let alone for nukes.

One word from China and this issue would disappear.
Ditto with Iran.
For the past 40 years China have been giving the rest of the world a primer on the pragmatic use of economic power.
Have you seen anyone threatening China lately?