You wouldn’t think that the threat of a nuclear attack would be a funny matter. However, over the past few weeks the Bond villain-like behavior of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has incited a complex mix of confusion, fear and laughter in the United States. 

Between his diplomatic meeting with Dennis Rodman, his bold threat of turning the Pacific into a “Sea of Fire” and his inexplicable desire to nuke Austin, Texas, he has gained the full attention of U.S. diplomatic leaders while providing golden material for U.S. comedians.

While all of these theatrics make for an interesting news cycle, it’s important to keep our relationship with North Korea in context. Our government should take standard defense precautions but without overstating the threat that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses.

The fact is that North Korea is like a toddler seeking attention. Every so often it creates a fuss in hope that its respective grown-up, the U.S., will notice it and give it what it wants. However, instead of kicking and screaming, North Korea uses military demonstrations and nuclear threats as a way to extort foreign aid (granted, though, its military demonstrations do involve a lot of kicking and screaming).

Historically, these tactics have worked. Since 1995, the U.S. has given North Korea over $1 billion in food and energy assistance, hoping that these contributions would tame the DPRK’s desire for nuclear proliferation. However, like a child that has been spoiled by its parents, North Korea is never satisfied. Now facing crippling U.N. sanctions, it’s no surprise that the country overwhelmed with poverty and starvation is screaming louder than ever.

It’s important to remember that while the little man Kim talks big, it’s mostly for his personal domestic benefit. His power is his most valuable possession, and he fears that looking weak might encourage an internal rebellion against his regime. Publicizing his “rivalry” with the U.S. allows him to boost his image as a strong force for good. The DPRK’s government-run media allows him to shield his people from the true outlandishness of this message.

So far, the Obama administration has taken well-measured steps by resisting the urge to acknowledge North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power, while cautiously stationing missile defense systems in Guam on the off chance a launch actually does occur. Most importantly, the administration has refused to be bluffed into giving the DPRK anymore financial aid. This firm, but careful approach is what needs to continue, if we ever hope to silence North Korea in the future.

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice stated last Friday in an interview with MSNBC, “Our interest is in reminding (Kim Jong-un) and those around him of the benefits of an alternative peaceful course, without getting too jumpy when he wakes up in the morning and issues another provocative statement.”

The reality is that North Korea’s bark is substantially more severe than its potential bite. There’s nearly unanimous consensus among experts that North Korea is currently incapable of executing a long range nuclear missile strike on the U.S.

In addition, the fact remains that any attempt to launch by North Korea would essentially be suicide, as the U.S. maintains the ability to wipe the country off the map in just a matter of hours. If North Korea possesses even one ounce of sanity, we can be certain that they aren’t actually going to do anything.

While the DPRK’s eccentric nature gives way to entertaining news stories and hilarious Jon Stewart segments, we should not let all the hullabaloo distract us from the complex reality of America’s international climate. This climate involves a number of concerns, many of which are likely more severe than the threat of a pudgy, basketball loving dictator.

For instance, the nuclear threats of Iran and Syria are very real and have the potential to ignite a very serious conflict due to their role in the Middle East. The regional conflicts between India and Pakistan are also significant, as both countries possess small nuclear arsenals. Then there’s that pesky war in Afghanistan that we always seem to forget about.

As a responsible adult, the U.S. needs to continue showing that it will no longer give in to the DPRK’s antics. While it is necessary for our government to take every national security threat seriously, we can’t let the surreal nature of Kim Jong-un distract us from reality.

Andrew is a sophomore in Engineering. He can be reached at [email protected].