A lighthearted title for the content of this article on CNN highlighting the North Korean leader’s questionable behaviour since his assumption of power last December. There has been a perceptible warlike undertone to his recent undertakings: nuclear and missile tests, the annulment of the 1953 Korean War armistice, and threats against the U.S. and South Korea. His antagonism has inspired a number of different spectators to try to explain his behaviour. Currently, the four prevailing explanations appear to be: 1. He is trying to boost his public support/ image domestically; 2. He is trying to consolidate power; 3. He’s insane (pretty convincing…); and 4. He’s  actually preparing to initiate war.

Interestingly, my South Korean friend brought this issue up at lunch yesterday. While she’s been at UBC the past four years, her parents both live in South Korea. She mentioned that her mother has expressed anxiety towards the situation, and that, while many believe that Kim Jong Un’s war rhetoric is nothing more than a political stunt (think explanations 1 and 2), others, her mother for example, are starting to become fearful of a potential conflict (4). What do you think? Is Kim Jong Un simply trying to strengthen his leadership and bolster his domestic support or is he reckless enough to actually initiate war against South Korea?