Should we get China to do our dirty job in North Korea, or should we invade them?

Answer 1

No. Neither of those will work. North Korea has the world's largest army. Invading them would be suicide. We don't even have the troops for the wars we are already fighting (and losing), and North Korea is much more heavily armed and motivated.

China isn't going to invade North Korea. Last time China tried that it was absolutely horrendous, and it is not something China wants to repeat.

All you can do is treat North Korea the same as any other nuclear power.

Answer 2

I have severe difficulty believing this is a serious question.

The PRC is allied to North Korea - even though this alliance is more along the lines of the "Rain Man" relationship between Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, with the DPRK as the autistic. Rethink how that picture would have been if Dustin Hoffman somehow got hold of a loaded gun, and you have an idea.

Whatever happens in the DPRK is dependent entirely on two parties:

(1) The PRC, which essentially supplies the DPRK with the bulk of what it needs to keep its economy functional;

(2) The ROK, which funds emergency food aid and has the strongest military forces in the region directly able to counter the DPRK (the PLA is spread out and has other commitments, most notably Taiwan).

Both of these parties have the most to lose from direct intervention, from the casualties sustained by civilians and military, to an influx of refugees, to the burden of reconstruction, to the cost of nuclear fallout (if it goes nuclear).

Asking the PRC to invade their only buffer state against the American military presence on the East Asian landmass, both fight a pariah state armed to the teeth and then fund the expensive recovery of said pariah state, is about as sensible as asking Latin American drug cartels to get out of the cocaine business. It just isn't happening.

The day the PLA does anything for the United States except deliver munitions right onto American military installations, personnel and equipment over something like Taiwan, is when the sky will fall right down over everyone's heads.

EDIT: Senseless commentary by Carl K

Carl K, you're out of your mind. The DPRK with the world's largest military? Go Wikipedia the answer, or do some serious reading at http://www.csis.org/

As for the PLA fighting the DPRK military, you must be out of your mind. The PRC intervened on BEHALF of the DPRK in the Korean War. The horrendous losses the Communist Chinese incurred during that war were inflicted by AMERICANS (as well as attached UN forces and the ROK military).

Answer 3

Let China do it, because North Korea is their little brother,
ie: the Korean War!!!!

Answer 4

China seems to be resistent to fighting right now. Question is, though, if China were to "take care of N. Korea", would we sit back and watch?

Answer 5

As an international power(the USA) we should actively be involved in whats going on in the world. But to invade a country because they have WMDs is just plain stupid. NKorea is an isolated country that has nothing better to do but starve its peoples and make headline news. We should keep an eye on them and be ready to take action if they decide to do something stupid.

Answer 6

Our military is stretched almost to its maximum being in so many open wars. North Korea is a force to be reckoned with and the U.S. military forces know it.

Answer 7

We should leave North Korea alone. We're too committed in other parts of the world. If you stir the hornets nest, you will get stung.

Answer 8

I like your first idea, after all, N.Korea is China's own monster. As well, it is considered a satellite of China. It's as though N.Korea is a counter balance to the Taiwan/American relationship.

Answer 9

we need to make out anti-nuclear stance for Korea clear (as we have). but invading them oursleves would be foolhearty. we need geographic support on that one...esp from china, japan, taiwan and so forth

Answer 10

the USA can not invade north korea, if they do that, there will be too many problems. norht korea might attach the USA with its weapons.