War drums in N. Korea have gone from being beaten to pounding...

I've been telling the tribe that the situation in N. Korea is much different than we've seen in the past.  I pointed to a few things of note in previous post and I'll do a quick recap...

1.  Japan notified its citizens that they have only 10 minutes to reach safety after being informed of a missile attack.

2.  The US forces in the region HAVE NOT returned to a normal state of operations...as a matter of fact we see additional forces being rushed to the area.  Side note:  Rumor has it that some dependents are being flown home...haven't verified that.

3.  PACOM commander testified before Congress.

4.  The entire US Senate was called to the White House for a briefing from the SecDef, DNI and SecState.

If that wasn't enough then check out what Trump said in an interview...via NBC News.

The U.S. could be headed toward a "major, major conflict" with North Korea over that nation's nuclear and missile programs, according to President Donald Trump, although he still hopes a peaceful resolution can be reached by applying diplomacy and economic sanctions.

Trump made his remarks Thursday in an interview with Reuters, saying: "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult."

A little more than three months into his presidency, Trump has made a resolution of the North Korean nuclear threat a top priority. He is responding to the Pyongyang regime's repeated tests of ballistic missiles, it's purported attempts to soon test another nuclear device and its bellicose words.

If that doesn't convince you then how about Putin and Abe's view of the situation. via Bloomberg.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear program is deepening after the issue dominated talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Moscow.

He and Abe believe the situation on the Korean peninsula has “seriously deteriorated,” Putin said Thursday after the Kremlin meeting. “We call on all states involved in the region’s affairs to refrain from military rhetoric and seek peaceful, constructive dialogue.”

Abe said he and Putin spent a long time discussing North Korea during the three hours of talks that also focused on resolving a seven-decade long dispute over four islands seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The issue has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace accord.

I find the meeting between Abe and Putin interesting.  Another one of our close allies is seeking if not an alliance but warmer relations with Russia?  If Japan can do this so can we.  We don't need to kiss Russian behind, all we need to do is not to expect them to kiss ours.  Mutual respect stated for the world to hear would be all it takes to defuse this drama.  A friendly US, Europe and Russia could do alot to help put out some of the fires we're seeing worldwide.

But back on task.

N. Korea is turning into something different.  Keep an eye on that region.