This is an insightful editorial from the Japan Times (JT). The JT argues that close coordination among Japan, South Korea and the U.S. is essential to rolling back the North Korean threat.
Source: Deterrence and defiance on the Korean Peninsula | The Japan Times
If we read the liberal western papers, it’s easy to conclude that the problem between the US and North Korea is because of Donald Trump. But North Korea’s nuclear weapons and threatening behaviour are the real challenge. For the moment, North Korea has a failed missile test this weekend and the US is publically thanking China for trying to intervene with North Korea.
The safest solution is to rely on China’s diplomatic intervention. But surely a US unilateral targeting of North Korea’s nuclear program seems high risk?
Thoughts?
Dr Alf's Blog 
Dr Alf provides us with an interesting conundrum concerning North Korea.
If the Chinese choose to employ enough pressure on the North Koreans to get Kim Jong Un to capitulate then fine,but if not then the North Koreans would be able to cite the demise of Ghaddafi and the official version of what happened to Saddam Hussein as very good reasons for hanging on to nuclear weapons and for testing them.
If nothing is done then the Japanese and South Korea and probably Vietnam would want nuclear weapons which would make the Far East even more of a powderkeg than it is now.
The problem is Kim Jong Un and his immediate entourage and how to terminate them with extreme prejudice whilst disabling the conventional forces and the million or so North Korean special forces which remain poised to strike at the South just 40 miles to the South.
The Americans have powerful space based weapons such as Tesla cannon which could be used to obliterate where Kim Jong Un and his guards reside and using HAARP they could create earthquakes and a super hurricane plus flooding to wreak havoc on his army and destroy infrastructure without having to fire a single shot or use Trump’s and Mattis’s carrier based strike force.
Artificially created tsunamis focussed on North Korean ports and harbours would cause further
devastation which would divert Kim’s forces away from the demilitarised zone and prevent exports leaving or food coming in.
With Kim dead,the regime would fall leaving the way clear for Korea to be reunited under South Korean rule with America and China as guarantors of the peace.
One hopes of course that Chinese pressure will be sufficient on its own.