Melissa,

You had proposed that possibly we are provoking North Korea.

I'm convinced that North Korea would agree with that.

Flip Wilson, like forty years ago, saying, "The devil made me do it", had everyone in stitches.

However, although this is not a funny situation, at all, it has similarities.

The leader in North Korea blames all the negative things in his country on South Korea & the US.

Also, there are many Islamic speakers that continuously blame all problems in the world on the Jews.

North Korea had provoked Japan.

They continuously provoke South Korea.

Now they are provoking the US.

If we do nothing in response, what would that say to North Korea? To South Korea? To Japan? To China?

When I was taunted, as a young boy, by other boys, I did or said nothing.

The other boys were eventually emboldened by my silence and inaction, and their taunts turned physical.

Then, when I was bullied, I still did or said nothing, and they were emboldened to greater acts of violence.

At that time in my life, my silence & inaction was primarily due to fear, not for any good or noble reason.

Now, we, individually, as Christians, are to turn the other cheek and pray for those who despitefully treat us.

However, how are nations to respond?

The leader of North Korea, not only is very young, but is acting like a school boy.

However, there are whole nations at stake.

Would our silence & inaction tend to embolden him towards violence against South Korea?

That possibility, that very real possibility, cannot be ignored, to the peril of many people, in both Koreas.

Gino