[Goose]

Another way of thinking about it....what would the response have been to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait if the world was sure he had nuclear weapons at that time?

Not much different. Saddam Hussein did not have the ability to deliver nuclear weapon reliably anywhere outside of the immediate area, if that. North Korea fully understands this. That is why they have worked so hard to develop a credible delivery system. Russia OTOH has the ability to reliably deliver fusion weapons (a much more damaging weapon class) anywhere on the planet in large numbers. These numbers could (probably would) bring on a "Nuclear winter". Nobody could reasonably expect to "win" that war. While it is horrible that N. Korea has a nuclear capability, it is nothing at all compared to Russia. A nuclear exchange between the US and Russia would be many orders of magnitude worse. The downside of this magnitude simply can't be ignored, like it or not.

[Goose]

Another way of thinking about it....what would the response have been to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait if the world was sure he had nuclear weapons at that time?

Not much different. Saddam Hussein did not have the ability to deliver nuclear weapon reliably anywhere outside of the immediate area, if that. North Korea fully understands this. That is why they have worked so hard to develop a credible delivery system. Russia OTOH has the ability to reliably deliver fusion weapons (a much more damaging weapon class) anywhere on the planet in large numbers. These numbers could (probably would) bring on a "Nuclear winter". Nobody could reasonably expect to "win" that war. While it is horrible that N. Korea has a nuclear capability, it is nothing at all compared to Russia. A nuclear exchange between the US and Russia would be many orders of magnitude worse. The downside of this magnitude simply can't be ignored, like it or not.