File Under: "In Hindsight, This Proved To Be A Catastrophic Mistake.."

S.Korea army to hold largest ever live-fire drill.  This isn't Monday's news, either.  This one's scheduled for Thursday..  Excerpt:

The drill, involving artillery, fighter jets and the largest number of personnel in a peace-time exercise, comes after the South's live-fire artillery exercise on Monday on the island near the tensely guarded sea border and is likely to infuriate Pyongyang.

Adding to the strangeness/tension of this unfolding crisis, Jesus jumped into the fray..  From South Korean troops prepare for possible North Korean attack..

Troops also were on alert at the border where the South turned on the lights of a 100-foot-tall (30-meter-tall) steel Christmas tree that would be visible to North Koreans living near the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas.

South Korea had stopped the longtime practice of lighting the huge Christmas tree — seen by secular North Korea as a propaganda move — years ago when it halted routine propaganda campaigns during a period of warming ties.

But today the lights will go on again at the western mountain peak known as Aegibong for the first time in seven years, officials said.

Looks like South Korea fooled both Bill Richardson AND Wolf Blitzer!

And:  Is it a problem of translation, disdain, or disgust?

Example one:  A caption for a picture of the Christmas tree states, "A fairy-light tower on Aegibong Peak in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on the western frontier, is switched back on Tuesday for the first time in seven years."
Also:
The South Korean military remains on high alert as a floodlight tower on Aegibong Peak in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, only 3 km from North Korea, was switched back on Tuesday.


Heh.  Fairy-light tower.  North Koreans are funny with their disrespect. 
Kinda short answer regarding Thursday's military exercises?  No matter what anyone says, there is no de-escalation of tension. 

Shorter answer?  Doom back on.