North Korea threatens war. Again.

Big bully North Korea has threatened war against the South, if the South Koreans join in UN sanctions aimed at punishing the North for it's recent nuclear test.

At least, I think they're threatening war.

Maybe its the translation, or maybe its Kim Jong Il's flair for the dramatic, but I really can't quite figure out what's being said here:

“South Korea’s participation in the U.S. racket to put pressure upon the
North ... is a serious provocation leading to a crisis of war on the Korean
peninsula,” the (North Korean) spokesman reportedly said.

“If South Korea joins the U.S. ploy to pressure us, we will consider it as
a declaration of a showdown and take corresponding actions,” the spokesman
added.

What the heck is a "declaration of a showdown"? Are Kim and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun supposed to meet at high noon on the 38th Parallel, wearing Stetsons and with six-guns strapped around their waists?

Since the NKs have successfully (sorta) tested a fission bomb, it's a bit harder to laugh at them. Kim may actually do something really stupid. When you stop and think about it, this is a really scary situation.

It's still funny to think of puffy little Kim Jong Il wearing a big old hat, though.