Mark,

Some comments on your post initiating this thread:

Superficially, the two situations have a number of similarities, pointed out by yourself above. There are, however, a great number of highly significant differences that should be recognised and taken into account. These differences preclude direct comparison.

1. History and Context.
In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. The first real test for the, then infant, United Nations. A United Nations force that was predominantly American was sent to the area to expell North Korean forces from South Korea. There was no peace treaty signed, merely an agreed truce, under the terms of which North and South Korea have, by and large, managed to co-exist peacefully. When the terms of this truce were drawn up, the prospects of North Korea acquiring WMD were not taken into account, such was the thinking and realities in the early 1950's.

In 1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait. A United Nations backed coalition was sent to the area tasked with two objectives, the first to ensure the security of the sovereign state of Saudi Arabia, and, secondly to expell the Iraqi Army from Kuwait. The two UN operations "Desert Shield" and "Desert Storm" accomplished both missions. Hostilities were brought to a halt with the signing of a cease fire agreement - not a peace treaty. Under the terms of this cease fire agreement, backed up by UNSC Resolutions, the Iraqi Government agreed to disarm and forgo the development,production and use of WMD. This was specifically introduced in this case because Iraq had a proven capability in this field and had previously used, and threatened the use of, such weapons.

2. The Intervening Periods
North Korea has, apart from minor incidents, co-existed with its neighbours and upheld the truce that ended hostilities. It is an extremely poor country with few natural resources. A communist country modelled on Stalinist lines its ties with Soviet Russia have always been stronger than its ties to Maoist Communist China. North Korea's acquisition of nuclear technology, from Soviet Russia, although alarming to some could be rationally explained. Subsequent to the ending of hostilities to maintain a military balance North Korea was supplied with missiles and missile technology by Soviet Russia. As these events unfolded North Korea signed international agreements that provided some degree of comfort and security amongst the international community.

On cessation of hostilities between UN coalition forces and Iraq, in accordance with UNSC Resolutions, weapons inspection teams from the UN agencies UNSCOM and the IAEA entered Iraq to supervise and verify Iraq's compliance with the UN resolutions Baghdad had agreed to. Within a very short period it became obvious that Iraq was not co-operating with those inspection teams. To ensure compliance the UN introduced sanctions, these measures were ineffective and the UNSCOM and IAEA teams were withdrawn from Iraq, prior to commencement of "Desert Fox" which was equally ineffective. Immediately after their departure from Iraq, both UNSCOM and the IAEA reported the current known status of the situation inside Iraq with regard to WMD programmes and stocks of WMD themselves to the UNSC. The content and points raised in this report still remain outstanding issues.

3. Relevant Events Elswhere
The collapse of Soviet Russia had an extremely negative effect on North Korea - its main support and mentor literally disappeared.

The terrorist attacks on WTC 9th September, 2001 showed to the American people and it's government that they were now in the front line and extremely vulnerable to attack.

4. Subsequent Actions
North Korea after having signed agreements to halt it nuclear programme in exchange for foreign aid covertly restarts its programme. The old North Korean Reactors are not very efficient at producing energy but can be used as "fast breeders" to produce enriched weapons grade plutonium. America arrives at a deal with North Korea to supply heating oil and build two light water cooled reactors to provide electrical power in the long term. US intelligence warns that the North Koreans have not stopped their nuclear programme as agreed.

After the attack of 9.11.01, the American Administration has to evaluate the threat of any future attack. This takes the form of:

a) Establishing who will attack;
b) In what form will that attack present itself, looking at worst case;
c) What will be needed to allow that attack to take place
d) Identify possible sources of support for such an attack in terms of finance, technology, material and neutralise them.

Under this process the US identifies four regimes considered to be willing partners - Taliban in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Having assisted the Northern Alliance in removing the Taliban from power in Afghanistan, thereby robbing Al-Qaeda of a secure base, the US then concentrates on Iraq's unwillingness to disarm in accordance with agreements and UNSC Resolutions. The US seeing in this unwillingness the threat that exists if weapons programmes proceed unchecked and support is given to terrorist groups in terms of material, technology and training. At the same time the US confronts North Korea with regard to its nuclear programme. North Korea admits to running this programme and to the existence of its own nuclear weapons. North Korea withdraws from the nuclear arms proliferation treaty. North Korea could, with justification, now be viewed not only as an exporter of missiles and missile technology, but of nuclear weapons themselves.

5. Options
US goes to the United Nations and voices its fears with regard to Iraq. Washington tells the UN that unless it (the UN) acts to enforce UNSC resolutions, the US will act unilaterally. UNSC passes UNSC Resolution 1441 and weapons inspection resumes with serious consequences for Iraq if it now fails to comply. US builds up forces in the area to maintain pressure on Saddam Hussein. Saddam can either comply in full or expect to be attacked, the choice is basically his. As his programmes and capability stand at present, the results of such an action can be contained. That will not be the case in the future if Saddam Hussein's ambitions were allowed to go unchecked.

Post WTC attack, North Korea watches the situation developing and monitors US military movements. North Korea threatens its own pre-emptive strike if threatened, and all out war if attacked. Potentially this is a much more dangerous situation, North Korea does not want to attack anybody and its past history supports that contention. Should North Korea act on statements it has made it knows for certain that it faces certain destruction, that is not what the regime in power there wants. What it hopes to do is to blackmail its neighbours and the US into supplying aid to bolster the regime and keep it in power, therefore, it becomes obvious that negotiation will solve this - North Korea has no geo-political agenda and its leaders want to stay in power.