It is different now because the US and North Korea are finding a new equilibrium. North Korea recognizes that the US is operating at a loss which increases the leverage it has in the region. Two weeks ago when North Korea said they wouldn't test a missile off the coast of Guam it wasn't because we scared them, it was because China stepped in and reefed down on sanctions. Meanwhile, China's got some stuff to do. North Korea knows where its trades are, it knows where its leverage is, and it's using it as much as it can. Do not confuse an act of provocation with an act of war. Fuckin' 7 years ago they shelled the South Koreans and the world continued in its orbit. Yeah, Nikki Haley is doing her best to navigate a challenging situation with very few arrows in her quiver. And yeah - it feels different now because everybody who started thinking about North Korea four months ago is still operating in an information-poor environment. But just because your perception is different doesn't mean your perception is correct.