That's why they should have been taken them out in 1994. The longer we wait, the more painful it will be when the regime finally tips over the oblivion.
If # they need to be "taken out" wont it be safer to wait until China is ready to do it?
It seems they could do it at a lower cost and possibly parts of the army would desert to the Chinese, but never to the US.
# and Ill assume for the sake of argument that you are right about this.
EDIT: North Korea is actually an area where I trust Beijing to have it under control. They have as much interest in North Korea not going crazy as the West and better intelligence about the situation. If its necessary to intervene they will do it.