North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has replaced the country's top general and emphasized heightened preparations for potential conflict, an increase in weapons production, and the expansion of military exercises, as reported by state media KCNA -
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreans-kim-calls-better-war-preparations-kcna-2023-08-09/The changes were announced during a meeting of the Central Military Commission aimed at formulating deterrent measures against unnamed adversaries.
Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il was removed from his position after seven months and succeeded by General Ri Yong Gil, who had previously held roles as defense minister and top commander of conventional troops.
Kim also outlined goals for expanding weapons production capacity and urged military drills with advanced equipment.
Amidst ongoing tensions, North Korea is planning a militia parade, and the United States and South Korea have scheduled military exercises that the North perceives as a security threat.
Will he pull the trigger this time? For your sake and mine, I hope he's still bullshitting.
He is bullshitting. The "trigger" gets NK destroyed. South Korea is not Ukraine, they are armed to their teeth and have thousands of modern artillery systems which are strictly designed for decades to fight this precise war.
The nuclear option gets US involved and North Korea;s regime destroyed, likely along a number of innocent bystanders. The conventional option gets South Korea seriously harmed, but North Korea's regime obliterated 100%. They have to keep a whole population in check internally.
He who has to make an effort to control himself, is unlikely to be ever able to control someone else.