Use force to remove Kim Jong Il from power?

[madformac]

The only way he will lose power is assasination and in a country like North Korea its exceptionally difficult. Added to the fact that it won't solve the situation either.

America, with its shiny missiles, new aircraft and well equipped troopers couldn't do the job alone. No matter what Bush is saying about going it alone over diplomacy.

First off the USA has in the region of 480,000 soldiers. Once you've deducted those serving in Iraq (about 180,000) and Afganistan (rumoured to be around 15-20,000), not to mention those posted around the world, you are looking at about 250,000 troops available. Not bad, except for the fact that the North Korean army alone has over a million troops, thats 4-1 in their favour if you threw every man at them. You just can't go marching in.

Add to that the DMZ between North and South Korea contains roughly 2-3 million landmines you can't walk in from South Korea either.

Bombing from the air alone cannot get the job done in this type of situation either.

Now if China, Russia, Japan, Europe and the USA all agreed to action then it might work. But that also means effectively starting a world war. The only other thing to do would be to destroy North Korea totally with nuclear capabilities but this would affect the surrounding regions badly (not to mention the civilian casualties). Not an option you want to take unless NK strikes first and the major powers all agree on this action.

Assasination would work to a degree but then who replaces him? They have a fanatical regime with most of the country supporting the leader. It's not like Iraq, Afganistan or Iran. You fight him you fight them all..

Its a major problem for sure