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Your interpreting this incorrectly.

Yes, the fact that NK is advancing its nuclear weapons program is a threat, but its purpose is not to start a war. NK would be suicidal to do so as the retalitory strike would leave nothing.

This, as is everything NK does, is about regime survival. They believe that they can garner political power over SK and bring the new SK gov to negotiations that would be in the NK favor. They will continue to go down this road because they no longer have incentive not to (read outside oil). And they think they can make it a thorn in the side of US policy in the region as well as thwart US plans in middle east. They will use this to try to extract a political solution (blackmail).

It may or may not be in our best interest to take out these sites now, but any war on the peninsula will be far more costly than our current War on Terrorism or the impending action in Iraq. Triggering that event can not be taken lightly. NK will not preemptively use these weapons against the US or even SK. They would likely use them if a war begins and they see that they will likely lose (which is what would happen). That is the danger.

I am sure of certain points in your analysis, but not sure in other areas you posit.

The fact remains that the North will continue to develop capabilities that will allow for longer range and more targeted capabilities, as well as rapid production of nuclear weapons both for their own use as well as for uncontrolled, massive proliferation throughout the world to any rogue nation or terrorist group willing to purchase from them.

This simply is an unacceptable situation any way you look at it.

Negotiating, good will, economic support, light water reactor construction, special economic zones, etc. have all shown that it will not retard nor conclude nuclear and strike missile development by the North Koreans. I believe much of your position is based on wishful thinking regarding that regime, which cannot be trusted in small or large matters. A line must be drawn. Unless your premise is they could halt such development and expansion based on more 'carrots' (the Carter approach) or diplomacy.

NK would like to become the arms supplier of the Axis of Evil. They can supply missles and nukes to oil-rich partners. They receive hard cash that can help their economic woes. The nukes also give them political capital with SK and Japan. They are a win win only if these weapons are used for trade and blackmail.

Using these weapons against the west would only guarantee the ahnilation of NK.

Rummy and Bush have seen this coming. One of their first acts in office two years ago was to revitalize the missle defense program.

We need to strike against Iraq soon. This will lessen our dependence on countries like Yemen for staging areas. Then we can blockade the shipment of NK arms to the area like the missles recently discovered under piles of cement.