Welcome to 1950

Things are getting tense once again between the Koreas and it appears that the little tinpot dictator in the North is spoiling for another war:

SEOUL, South Korea - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that the world has a duty to respond to the sinking of a South Korean warship, which has been blamed on North Korea.

After talks with South Korean leaders Wednesday, Clinton told reporters the attack that killed 46 sailors was an "unacceptable provocation" by the North and the "international community has a responsibility and a duty to respond."

Clinton was spending just a few hours in Seoul discussing possible international responses to the crisis.

The North denies it was responsible and has threatened to retaliate if action is taken against it. It has previously warned of "all-out war."

On Wednesday, North Korea pledged to close the last road link with the South if Seoul continues with anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts.

"The South Korean puppet war-like forces would be well advised to act with discretion, bearing deep in mind that such measures of the KPA (army) will not end in an empty talk," North Korea's KCNA news agency quoted a top official as saying.

In reality a state of war has existed between these countries since 1950 since there never has been a formal end to the Korean War, just a truce.

North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong "Mentally" Il is aging and there have been questions about his health. I can't help but wonder if his deteriorating condition is creating some additional mental disturbances, or perhaps he wants to go out with a bang.