The North are never going to stop provoking and seeing how far they can push the west. This whole sorry episode on the Korean peninsula will only end two ways. 1. Internal revolt and overthrow of the government. Highly unlikely to happen given Kims stranglehold over the military and the indoctrination of the people to their ideals ie. Juche, self reliance and devotion to the dear leader. 2. War. Also highly unlikely. A war would certainly be no walkover but assuming the chinese stay out of it, (which they would, the are not going to risk economic world domination over N. Korea) the west will eventually prevail owing to technology and the fact any protracted engagement will weaken the Norths military whilst the west gets stronger. BUT. The political realities mean this wont be an Iraq "we do as we please" scenario. The political implications of seoul and its 10 million inhabitants being nuked isnt something anyone can stomach.
Hence we have stalemate and these games will continue indefinately.
