What is obvious is US reluctance to show a stronger face towards North Korea in the expectation it would be willing to come to terms with its nuclear pursuit on the diplomatic table.
Not to mention US economy is reeling under heavy burden added by prolong military engagement and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's clear that US govt doesn't want to see the possibility of another war.
This is the probable reason why South Korea seemed to hold back in the beginning of the incident of Cheonan sinking.
Unfortunately this brings a bad light unto United States because the reason put forward to invade Iraq was that it was suspected to have in its possession WMDs while never publicly known to have ever tested a nuclear weapon. On the other hand North Korea has had several nuclear weapon tests. By now of course everybody knows whether they like to admit it or not that WMD was not the reason why Iraq was attacked though being a realist I could understand why.
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