First big "holy shit" moment of the Trump presidency?

[CountDeMoney]

Say Kim does some nuclear testing, because he can't back down.

Then Trump orders a little cruise missile strike because he can't back down either. Noting too bad, just a little hello a la Syria.

Then Kim fires back. Not all out, like trying to level Seoul, but he has to do something because otherwise he looks too weak internally. Maybe he strikes back at a nearby carrier group.

Maybe the dice come up high enough that they sink a destroyer or hit a carrier hard enough that it hurts - and makes the US look less than invulnerable.

Is there any way that that gets deescalated?

Why try to hit a ship out in the open ocean when you've got thousands of artillery pieces and missile launchers targeted on shit that's been paced off for years?  They know where the all barracks, depots, government buildings and critical infrastructure are located.

And no, China would not send in any ground forced that were never mobilized, because 1) it was a bullshit story, and 2) China will not let the North fall.  Not at this time, and in this manner.

[garbon]

Say Kim does some nuclear testing, because he can't back down.

Then Trump orders a little cruise missile strike because he can't back down either. Noting too bad, just a little hello a la Syria.

Then Kim fires back. Not all out, like trying to level Seoul, but he has to do something because otherwise he looks too weak internally. Maybe he strikes back at a nearby carrier group.

Maybe the dice come up high enough that they sink a destroyer or hit a carrier hard enough that it hurts - and makes the US look less than invulnerable.

Is there any way that that gets deescalated?

Why try to hit a ship out in the open ocean when you've got thousands of artillery pieces and missile launchers targeted on shit that's been paced off for years?  They know where the all barracks, depots, government buildings and critical infrastructure are located.

And no, China would not send in any ground forced that were never mobilized, because 1) it was a bullshit story, and 2) China will not let the North fall.  Not at this time, and in this manner.

I could see China wanting to reorganize its puppet.