[headquarters]

Again I underline that these are only my speculations...

I believe that internal politics in Pyongyang might be a factor that can escalate the situation too.In a play to manouver their faction to remain in power, war against outside powers is tried and tested.

What form it would take is hard to say - artillery exchanges and the retaliation war from the allies by sea and air could serve as a useful tool for the KIMs to galvanize support behind them and stay in power -even though the military suffer sa hammering from the allies.

The highway of death scenario has been thoroughly analyzed by NK - they will likely make only small sallies across the DMZ .Their main force will be spread out in an in depth defense north of the DMZ-hoping that this will lead to allied reluctance to see a war through .Ousting the regime by air is nigh on impossible imho.

After the dust settles and the bombardments are over the Kims are still in power and their grip still firm .

Their initial escalation will start much like the one we see now - agressive posturing ,incidents with loss of life and materiel and psy ops - this way they hope to coax the allies into "unfavourable political ( and geographical ) " terrain .Maybe sacrificing something like an airliner/cargoship that they sink themselves to have a tale for their propagandists to serve the world press etc.Assymetrial warfare type attacks are highly likely in a situation like this -indeed US soil and waters could be at risk of such.But this is ofcourse a knifes edge -it might lead to the US seeing no way out but winning outright at all costs.

I think there is a very real risk that this will occur in the next decade - as long as the Kims feel their power slipping .

But things could change - the US could get favourable results sooner rather than later in Stan and Iraq, and the economy could recover more rapidly than expected -leading to the odds for a coalition of Allies that actually will grit their teeth and see the war through rather than having to accept sort of a draw due to the enormous cost in life ousting the current regime will demand.Other factors would need to click into place as well of course .The NK populace might rise up and hope for outside intervention.

Distatseful as it may seem , propping up the regime until the Kims die off and a "new hand of leaders " is dealt might be the only alternative to a devastating war with hundreds of thousands dead -or indeed millions...

As for the "shooting range war" that some envision ,where the NK forces are eliminated enmasse by airpower alone seems highly unlikely .The massive columns that advanced on Baghdad would be the ideal scenario for the NK forces - provided their gamble onallied public support faltering holds water.

Just one guys opinion .

Wish I could see other options to get rid of the regime and liberate the people of NK .I think conventional war to topple it would entail battles on pair with the Korean War of 50-53 or possibly the second world war in terms of feriocity.

Not very optmistic prospects then from the Northern Branch of Twilighters United.