But this came at a cost: a permanent state of near-war to stave off the forces of history that would otherwise tear down North Korea. When Soviet protection fell away, North Korea became suddenly vulnerable against the vastly more powerful United States and its allies. Small, impoverished North Korea, unable to match their abilities, has compensated with a willingness to accept extreme levels of risk. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyBy edging up to the line of such a war, North Korea can also coerce its adversaries in peacetime. The Nixon administration faced this problem in 1969, when North Korea shot down a United States Navy plane, killing 31.

Source: New York Times April 17, 2017 17:23 UTC