[MarkT]

Actually, the way to do it would be to engage S. Korea, China and Japan to promote the cessation of nuclear development by N. Korea. The U.S. should stress to them that the last thing we really want is to commit more ground troops and other military assets to the region.

Later, quietly, we should use a S. Korean or N. Korean element to place a non-traceable explosive device to try to effect "a tragic industrial accident" which would be the result of "the ineptitude of a third-world wannabe". Let then the countries of interest, but especially S. Korea embark upon the restoration of the then devastated N. Korea and its long-suffering peoples.

[mandible]

I could not condone your suggestion of planting some untraceable explosive device to affect regime change. The N. Koreans are not stupid an dsuch dire action could make the tension worse. N. Korea has a 1.2 million person army, btw. We do not have the manpower to counter such an assault.

I do believe that N. Korea will implode under its own weight as the Soviet Union was destined to do. The most logical course right now, to me, is to continue with the diplomatic measures. The NK leadership will eventually burn itself out.