North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is threatening to turn a disputed island into a “sea of fire” in the latest grandiose and overly dramatic threat from Pyongyang.  Kim is upset over U.S.-South Korean war games and economic sanctions.

North Korea had shelled Baengnyeong Island in 2009, and carried out attacks previously in 2002 and 1999.  The Island’s South Korean civilian authorities are on high alert and have readied emergency shelters.

The test of newly elected South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s leadership comes at the opposition is blocking some of her cabinet appointments.

Meanwhile, China is pivoting some of its criticism back to the U.S. and South Korea.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency says the new tensions on the Korean Peninsula are a failure of the U.S. policy of economic sanctions.  China helped write the latest round of economic sanctions on North Korea.

Nevertheless, Beijing is calling for a return to the 6-party talks to bring calm to the situation.