From the Editor

Kim Jong Un is no fool.

Yeah, he looks foolish to the modernized world, strolling with a Napoleonic hand thrust inside his coat or posing at the controls of a Pong-era computer—although, to be honest, I’m pretty much in the same situation when it comes to hardware. Bellicose bluster from a baby faced pudge educated in Switzerland seems comical, at best. And there is that little problem of all out war if he gets a little carried away.

But few dictators wield absolute authority these days. They must placate edgy generals, appear heroic to the population and win enough style points to remain in the “Axis of Evil.”

A tough task when you’re competing against the likes of Assad--or living in the shadow of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

So North Korea’s noisy leader is hardly acting contrary to expectations. As an untested 20-something, he must prove his resolve to the military. He also needs a show of brinksmanship to win concessions--either from his lone ally or his nation’s longstanding enemies. The U.S. can do little more than reassure South Korea and appeal to China. After enough chest-thumping, Kim can call off the war of words, withdraw the two missiles and declare on state-run news that his enemies backed down, earning forced acclaim from his people.

If China kicks in an additional shipment of goods to the impoverished nation to keep him still, all the better.

Now, we may seem powerless in this mess. The president can’t order one of his famous drone strikes, especially after China’s pointed (yet still refreshing) refusal to employ extralegal violence in their manhunt for the murderous Naw Kham. But there is considerable incentive for the Obama administration—as well as Republicans in Congress—to drag out the affair, to keep Kim talking and the world on edge.

Just what do I mean?

Well, the economy added a mere 88,000 jobs in March as companies once again showed an aversion to hiring. Did you hear about that in the Second Korean War clutter? A majority of Americans support some modest level of gun control, but debate withers under the significant weight of Kim Jung Un. Meanwhile, a number of airport control towers are on the line and other damaging cuts lurk thanks to the sequester, yet the government seeks a $2.5 billion increase to ease the Veterans Affairs Department backlog. And the administration offered belated concessions of Chained CPI and Medicare reductions—the very things congressional Republicans wanted as evidence Obama was serious about budget cuts—only to hear John Boehner reply with “That’s no way to lead and move the country forward.”

Neither is contradicting previous demands, apparently.

Ah, imposed cuts here, increased spending there. One party refuses to introduce a budget, another digs in its heels mindlessly at every turn, preferring to allow the country to wallow until the next election. The NRA wants more guns in order to decrease gun violence, the HSUS lumps animal cruelty and ranching into one category. True believers follow Hannity, Sharpton, Matthews or Beck…

Where was I? Oh—the proper American response is reassurance to our allies, communication with China and a few chuckles directed toward Kim. Instead, North Korea’s difficult succession somehow obscures our very real issues.  

Yeah, Kim Jong Un is no fool. Unless he pushes one step too far.