How do you use diplomacy with people like this?

This would be a good point for you to get up to date. Odd that your employer keeps you in the dark about such public information.

The strength of Japan's armed forces in 2002 was 239,900 active personnel including some 10,400 women. The Ground Self-Defense Force had 148,200 personnel, organized into one armored and 10 infantry divisions. There were also 47,000 personnel in reserve components. The Maritime Self-Defense Force, consisting of 44,400 personnel, had 54 surface combatants, 16 combat submarines, and an air arm of about 80 combat aircraft and 90 armed helicopters. Air Self-Defense Force personnel numbered 45,600 with combat aircraft totaling 280. Japan has a paramilitary coast guard of 12,250 operating 333 patrol vessels.

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Japan-ARMED-FORCES.html

 

Outsmarting people is a lot more fun and less painful, but there's a point where you just have to do whatever it takes to ensure you continue.

 

The last thing NK wants is war. There are several factions within NK, and the leadership is currently fractured and in a power struggle. The shelling was actually viewed by many experts as a show of force by the military to the political head of the leadership structure. It was a message that the generals control the fate of the country, not the little man in the funny suit. It would be much better to work with the military to manage a coup against the government. I think we would find a great deal of craving for a more open society, and overall better living conditions for the general population. Think the former Soviet Union. There is a great deal of good inside of NK, but it is being oppressed by a power hungry and ruthless regime.

As for the large military, it is a paper doll military. Built to show strength, but in reality it would fall quickly into disarray. Think Iraq without the insurgent forces. I honestly believe we would be welcomed as liberators in NK, mainly because the people have such a terrible life. The biggest issue with Iraq was that we took a fairly stable country with established infrastructure and totally fucked it up beyond recognition. Even to this day there are basic services like power, water, and transportation that have still yet to be repaired or rebuilt. NK is an opportunity, and if the cards are played right it could become a model for how to change rouge nations into functioning nations.

 

I can only assume that our strategy was to lean on China to contain NOK. It seems better than the alternative.

 

Well you're not factoring in the intangibles. Saddam had the clutch gene, he was a beast in pressure situations.

 

I have a weapon of mass destruction and I'm not afraid to use it.

 

fixed