And that is different from now.....how?
There is no difference. The NORKS could destroy much of Seoul within hours with all their artillery. It's a known fact and why the US and western world keeps appeasing them.
Personally, I am okay with making the NORKS an example with our most devastating weapons and possibly tactical nukes. North Korea is the prime example of why and how western civilization should destroy enemies. And I no longer care about collateral damage. Germany, Italy, and Japan learned their lesson...it's time to teach others the simple lesson of "live and let live".