Why must we constantly antagonize North Korea?

[TwilightGardener]

26. I assume we've been flying fighters and bombers over SK since the 50's cease-fire.

Haven't used them yet, that I know of. We are on patrol for SK, in case NK starts the war up again--why we've been there all these years. We give them food aid and money. If we had really wanted to take them out, we would have done it, and they know it. We didn't suddenly show up on their doorstep last week. All we did was reveal our flights (AFTER the fact, of course) to let them know we hear their threats. They know the annual exercises are their time to raise their little fists in the air. But provocation, I think, would be something like flying into their airspace, or moving our missiles or ships or whatever around in new offensive, threatening ways (like sailing into their waters). Showing our assets and capabilities, in an exercise, is how countries try to DETER war, not start it.