I think Elliot and Nurse are right. Even if they for sure had the weapons, they wouldn't risk their destruction.

To start a world war, I believe that it would take multiple missile attacks on multiple countries, but with all-due respect to North Korean military, their military just isn't sufficient enough to withstand a world war, but like any country, they could be the spark.

North Korea is smart enough to know that when it comes to nuclear weapons, they're heavily out-gunned by the Russians and Americans alone, Russia holds 16,800 Nuclear weapons, whereas America holds 9,600 Nuclear weapons. North Korea, the last time that I had track, only had a few, between Five and Eight, if memory serves.
If North Korea were to start a war such as this.. It would be suicide, not only for the people, but for the entire country, and even Kim Jong-il knows this.

That and there's the whole mutually assured destruction argument - if you launch a nuclear weapon at a major target, there's enough time to retaliate before that target is even hit, resulting in two destroyed cities for example, yours and theirs. Seeing as it's a good plan not to destroy your own city or your own people, it's therefore a good plan to not launch nuclear weapons in the first place, which is why you see shows of strength, rather than outright attacks ("hey look at us, we're testing nuclear weapons, wouldn't want to fire at us now, would you?").

While the events recently were less 'big talk' and more 'drop a few missiles to make sure', I doubt that even the North Koreans would attack with nuclear weapons first, and the South Koreans sure are smart enough to not do so either. It's an angry stalemate.

While I did study the Cold War long ago, I only remember the banging of shoes on tables, so I'm not really one for the history of warfare, or disputes and threats of war. Still, I don't expect anyone to bring the rest of the world into this, I'm sure there are others here who are following this closer than I am.

If world wars started over crap like this, we would have seen a third World War during Vietnam, and even the Cold War when Nuclear strikes were at the highest possibility.

I don't think they have "a lot" and even if they did I don't think they are even capable of going as far as the U.S. because when they test fired one it barely reached Japan. Even so, since we got troops stationed there and we are doing drills we have a way of knocking them out of the sky. But really, over the years NK has been alot of barking. Occasionaly they might bite but then it's not really a huge deal. It's basically like a dog in your back yard. It barks alot but when you try to take care of it it will either keep barking or attempt to jump on you. But then it will back off.

They have some yes but I don't even think they are as capable as everyone elses. The last time they tried to test fire it barely went to Japan if I remember right. But yes, they have been barking a lot but biting less for years.

As for North Korea, whenever you have shooting involving a nuclear-armed state, it is serious. I suspect it is part of a larger ploy by the North Koreans to get attention, although they have been getting awfully risky in that regard with the recent sinking of a South Korean warship.

But really, North Koreas behavior is said by many to be "random" and this isn't the first time even before the Cheonan (spelling?) sinking. They have had some firefights many times in the past. Even at one point some NK soldiers going to SK's territory and shooting at civilians if I remember right. Even so, like said above, they have no backup anymore because China wanted to keep deals with the U.S. and Russia isn't Communist anymore.

Even if we did attack them, I doubt it would result in something like a global war. Sure, Kim Jong's supporters are fanatical for him, but the truth is, all he does is build up a military and focuses less on his people. He starves his people and they hardly have any power running through their cities. So, just as a scenario here, if we did go after them we would probably beat them quickly or by some chance they would see through Kim's lies and probably turn against him. But that is just how I think of it.

Even so, this is really more or less a border conflict compared to what was going on in the Cold War. And as Jason said, they don't really have an influence anywhere.

As for what started WWII, there was the Nazi's invading Poland, Italy becoming facsist, Nazi's attacking Stalingrad and the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor. That is quite alot compared to what is happening today.

I know what you're thinking about though RoryFoster, but the reason, I think, people get concerned or worried is because it is probably new to them and haven't seen much history (not saying you haven't) and they jump to conclusions. In truth, the world is somewhat problem-solving now than it was back in the Cold War and WWII. My grandmother told me once that when JFK was assassinated she and her family feared the worst. But things turned out fine in the end. I also think media-hype is another reason people get so worried.

I hope this helped.

EDIT: By "fine" in my last statement I mean that it didn't cause a major conflict. Though it did raise tensions.

Remember, about two years ago everyone was worried when Georgia went into South Ossetia and the Russians flexed their muscles back. It turned out to be mild.

Yeah I heard about it this morning, I think it's dangerous grounds to be honest he world is gonna have to decide carefully what hey want to do about this, personally I think we should all say clear and let hem get on with it themselves.