North Korea Continues Threats Against U.S. and Allies

Following weeks of ratcheting up bellicose threats against the United States and its allies, North Korea announced this week that it will start up a nuclear reactor that had been mothballed in 2007. The move is seen by many observers as aggressive posturing, as well as a move in that country's commitment to a nuclear weapons program and the creation of a possible negotiating chip in future talks.
Perhaps more troubling, North Korea has declared the 1953 armistice "invalid." Officially, the Korean War has not ended; there is only an armistice (cease-fire agreement), and small engagements have occurred off and on for the past 50 years. This is not the first time that North Korea has abrogated the armistice; it remains to be seen the extent to which actions will match words.
Ostensibly, the move by North Korea is in response to new sanctions the United Nations has levied against the country after North Korea's latest nuclear test in February. The sanctions are part of a larger U.S.-led effort by the international community to persuade the nation to abandon its nuclear weapons program. However, some observers see the North Korean action as part of a larger strategy aimed not at warfare, but for regime survival. (For details, see the two articles from Stratfor Global Intelligence and the one from the International Herald Tribune in the links list below.)
The United States has responded to North Korea's new threats by making a show of military strength during annual training exercises with the South Korea, including sending in B-2 stealth bombers capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons. South Korea has said that any provocative moves from the north would trigger a strong response from their forces.
In response to the invective from North Korea, China has increased its military posture along its shared border with that country. Since North Korea is very dependent upon China, that military build-up is likely to have more of an immediate effect in Pyongyang than actions by either the United States or South Korea. Kim can be fairly certain that the allies won't attack and that they have minimal other leverage -- but he cannot be so sure of what China might do.
Despite the flow of belligerence from North Korea, it does not appear that the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, has mobilized troops or positioned forces for an attack. Nonetheless, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is himself South Korean, said that the current crisis "has already gone too far." He added, "Aggressive rhetoric and military posturing only result in counter-actions, and fuel fear and instability."
More on this story can be found at these links:
U.S. Will Not Accept North Korea As a "Nuclear State," Kerry Says. CNN
U.S. Sees North Korea Blustering, Not Acting. New York Times
North Korea: Not Crazy but Very Misunderstood. International Herald Tribune
Ferocious, Weak and Crazy: The North Korean Strategy. Stratfor
Considering a Departure in North Korea's Strategy. Stratfor
Closer to Home
While there is probably little private citizens in the United States can do regarding the North Korean belligerence, on a personal level, many of us have to deal with belligerent individuals.
TWW team member Stan Purdum, who is a cyclist, says that on the roads, cyclists occasionally experience aggression from drivers and others. One day, a man mowing his grass gave the "finger" as Stan pedaled by. Stan dismounted and stepped onto the edge of the lawn. When the man came near, Stan said, "What did I do to offend you?" Rather than answer, the man ran his mower close and said, "Get off my property!" Stan backed up to the road's edge, and repeated his question.
At that, the man stopped mowing and did, in fact, give an answer, loudly: "WITH ALL THE BIKE TRAILS AROUND, YOU [EXPLETIVE] CYCLISTS DON'T [EXPLETIVE] BELONG ON THE ROADS HOLDING UP TRAFFIC."
Stan responded, "Trails don't go all the places I want to go."
"LIKE [EXPLETIVE] HELL THEY DON'T!" the man screamed.
"Well, clearly we're not going to agree," Stan said. Then he mounted his bike and continued on his way.
Stan comments, "Most drivers experience a momentary delay once in a while because of a cyclist on the road, but most take it in stride as part of the reality of driving. Perhaps this guy had been caught behind a group of cyclists who'd acted like they owned the road, so maybe I'd just been on the receiving end of the finger and angry blast that this man had wanted to aim at them. Or maybe he was upset because some of his property taxes support the county parks and, thus, trail building, and so he thought all cyclists should use them. Maybe his anger had nothing to do with bicycles.
"But it also occurred to me that I'd been made the object of venom by a man who didn't even know me because I belonged to a 'group' he despised -- 'people who ride bicycles on the road.' Disliking someone because of their group identity may also show up as racism, xenophobia, hatred of homosexuals and the like. And those kinds of indiscriminate animosities often say more about the one who holds them than they do about those who are the target of them. I've seen a study of prejudice that suggests that reasoning can dispel a prejudiced outlook from people who have no internal need to feel superior to others, but reasoning is not nearly so effective with those who have that need.
"It may be, however, that I'm over-analyzing this encounter. Maybe, after all, the finger flipper was just being a jerk. In any case, I used to think that at least some of this aggression toward cyclists could be eliminated by reasoning with the perpetrators, but I've become far less confident of that."
The Big Questions
1. What do you understand to be going on in a person when he or she is routinely rude, argumentative, hostile or contentious? Why?
2. What might Jesus say about people who cling to confrontation or belligerence as a way of interacting with others? What might Jesus say to such persons? Considering that many people seemed to find Jesus difficult to deal with at times, what might those people say to Jesus? Would they be justified?
3. Assuming you have made genuine but unsuccessful efforts to get along with a difficult person, what, in light of your commitment to follow Jesus, should be "Plan B"?
4. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). But what about when the person with whom we are trying to make peace perceives our attempt as a sign of weakness or uses it to gain advantage over us? Is it important to operate from the position of peacemaker even when there is no obvious reward or benefit from doing so? Why?
5. What negative effect does fear or dislike of others have on your ability to make good decisions about how to proceed? How does your faith in God help you make better decisions and live with less fear?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
1 Samuel 17:10-11
And the Philistine said, "Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (For context, read 17:1-54.)
The "Philistine" speaking in the verses above is Goliath, the giant. His words bristle with defiance and bluster at the Israelites. And his words effectively dishearten the Israelites, leaving  them "dismayed and greatly afraid."
Later, when David accepts his challenge, Goliath spews words of scorn for him personally: "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field" (v. 44). David responds with his own belligerent words (see vv. 45-47), but his include a statement of confidence that the Lord is with him.
We know the outcome of this confrontation, of course. David's slingshot-propelled stone brought down the giant and caused the Israelite troops no longer to view the Philistines as invincible. The Israelites then took the battle to the Philistines and prevailed.
Questions: In human relationships today, what can change how we view a belligerent person? What alternatives would you have suggested to Goliath, or to people who lived with Goliath? Was David's response the only possible response?
In one famous Easter episode of The Simpsons, the family falls asleep during a boring sermon. Bart Simpson dreams he is David and that he was defeated by Goliath's son. He gets back into shape and kills Goliath II, only to discover that the giant has built roads and hospitals and instituted programs that benefit the people. How hard is it to see beneficial actions proceeding from individuals or institutions that represent different political aims and goals? Do we have a tendency to demonize those who represent the "enemy" from our perspective?
Matthew 5:44-45
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (For context, read 5:43-48.)
As Christians, we're pretty familiar with Jesus' "love your neighbor" command. But here, Jesus extends it to everyone, including enemies. And the reason? This is in imitation of God's indiscriminate and life-giving mercy to all, both good and bad.
Questions: Does this command of Jesus apply to international diplomacy? Why or why not? How does this command apply to personal dealings with obnoxious people? How do you apply it to your enemies?
On an international basis, can you think of instances where treating enemies with more kindness than they deserve has had a long-term benefit? Recent trends seem to favor long sentences for criminals, and for treating juveniles as adults and applying long sentences as well. Does this benefit our communities? Is incarceration the only protection for our communities?
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (For context, read 12:9-21.)
Here's a statement from the apostle Paul that seems rooted in the reality of daily life. Christians should, of course, attempt to live peaceably with everyone. But Paul recognizes that it is not within the ability of any person, Christian or otherwise, to command peaceableness from someone else. Still, we should do what we can to live peaceably with all. If that peace is broken, or never occurs to begin with, it should not be because the Christian person did not make a genuine effort.
Question: Where do you need to make a fresh effort to live peaceably with someone?
Romans 14:19
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (For context, read 14:1-23.)
The church in Rome included Christians who had come to the faith from Judaism and also Christians who had come to the faith from paganism. The former brought with them the centuries-old kosher dietary laws while the latter had no problem dining on food that had been previously offered to pagan gods before arriving in the marketplace. It was perhaps inevitable that those from one background would judge those from the other background as wrongheaded in their culinary practices.
In chapter 14, Paul calls upon the members of the church to stop the judgmentalism and instead work together for peace and for the things that make for "mutual upbuilding."
Questions: What is the focus of judgmentalism? In contrast, what is the  focus of "mutual upbuilding"? How easy or challenging is it to mutually upbuild when there are those who seem to prefer dissension and conflict? How does this attitude seem to affect politics in our society? In our churches?
Titus 3:9-10
But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions ... (For context, read 3:1-11.)
This advice from Paul shows that even within the faith community, there can be belligerent people. Paul also sets a precedent: "After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions." Thus, when possible, having no dealings with difficult people can be a biblical strategy.
Question: What should you do when you're forced to encounter someone over and over -- an obnoxious parishioner who never ceases to nitpick at church leaders; an adult sibling with whom you must co-administer care to your aging parents; a coworker who's assigned to your department?
For Further Discussion
1. In an article titled "Managing Conflict in Higher Education," Robert J. McAllister writes: "Not everyone wants peace. People in a conflict sometimes cling to their attitudes and behaviors with a tenacity that may contradict logic, but does not contradict a long record of ill will and mutual animosity. Tenacity in a conflict sometimes develops simply because there is too much to lose in abandoning it or perhaps because there may even be something to be gained from continuing it." What might a continuously belligerent individual hope to gain from maintaining a constant state of animosity?
2. What is your response emotionally to those who are difficult to deal with? Has anyone ever said or done anything that might suggest you can be, at times, one of those difficult people? What is your response to such criticism?
3. What ought to be our country's long-range agenda concerning North Korea? What would be the first step? What tools do we have to influence North Korea?
Responding to the News
This would be a good time to think about a difficult person with whom you have to deal and ask your class members for both advice about and prayer support for that relationship.
As a group, pray for strength and wisdom to be able to deal faithfully with those who seem to have no interest in living like Jesus.

Closing Prayer
O Lord, we pray for our country's international relationship and especially, at this time, our dealings with North Korea. Grant wisdom and guidance for a good outcome to our national leaders and those who must make decisions about how to respond to the provocations. Help us personally to find in our faith wisdom and guidance for dealing with the difficult persons in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.