by David Thill

Created on: June 27, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Despite its wildly unpredictable leader and history of stubborn transgression against all standards of international law and diplomacy, North Korea poses far less of a threat to the world than does Iran.

That is certainly not to underestimate the North Korean potential for instability and even armed conflict. The simple fact that, as far as the rest of the world is able to determine, Kim Jong Il is completely without any check or balance to his authority, is enough to frighten anyone, especially given that he is in sole control of one of the largest remaining standing armies on the planet. Rumors of his failing health only add to concerns that there appears to be no clear line of succession to his power as supreme leader. While he continues to cling to power and life, there is no predicting what actions he might take to prop up his authority or lend support to one side or another in any potential succession battle.

Given the fact that North Korea has not only scattered long range missiles randomly across the map during various "tests" and "demonstrations" and "space launches," but that North Korea has also more or less successfully tested a pair of nuclear weapons, it would be insane to suggest that North Korea poses no threat to world peace. However, against all of this has to be weighed the fact that North Korea, however unstable, is also small, relatively remote, exceptionally poor and economically crippled, and diplomatically isolated.

The population of North Korea is someplace in the ballpark of 20 million people, and their estimated gross domestic power is, very roughly, $6 billion. Even with the massive North Korean emphasis on conventional ground forces, the economy would be very hard pressed to support any military campaign, let alone one of any duration. In addition, North Korea is bordered by both China, still one of the world's preeminent armed powers, and South Korea.

South Korea's armed forces are strong, well equipped, and backed by an economy at least $1 trillion larger than that of North Korea. Moreover, South Korea is a widely respected member of the world community, with treaties of mutual defense and a strong presence in the United Nations ready for any North Korean aggression. Predicting whether North Korea will perpetrate any particular act of aggression may be essentially impossible, but the ability of the world to deal with any act of aggression, however illogical, cannot be questioned.

On the other side of the equation, Iran is a far

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