Military retaliation could easily escalate into war involving the Koreas , the United States and possibly China , with devastating consequences . Armstrong says American attack confronts the world with difficult options . Sanctions have failed , military action could be disastrous ; talks the least bad choice , he says . Pyongyang may be trying to show it 's a force to be reckoned with , Charles Armstrong says . Talks could reveal what it will take to get North Korea to abandon nukes , he says .
Armstrong says American attack confronts the world with difficult options . Sanctions have failed , military action could be disastrous ; talks the least bad choice , he says . Pyongyang may be trying to show it 's a force to be reckoned with , Charles Armstrong says . Talks could reveal what it will take to get North Korea to abandon nukes , he says .