There is a sense in both Koreas that reunification is inevitable, but the North and South are economically, politically, and socially incompatible. In the face of the impasse, Pyongyang shows a continuing disposition toward provocation, and its large military is a continuing threat to Seoul, which responds by further strengthening its own military. A comparison of northern and southern capabilities reveals asymmetries, some favoring one and some the other. Yet in the end, neither side seems to want a full-scale war. The decline of the North in all but military prowess and its recent regime change may force a decision, and the hope is that violence can be contained until all Koreans can decide their future at the ballot box.