[Yahoshua]

Well, now I know all my noodles have been put to good use (at least my useless knowledge is good for something...)

"That raises another point: just how good is the NK army these days?"

Oh, how I'd love to know that myself. But in the least these troops are trained by the Chinese, so we can expect some improvement in terms of military equipment (however outdated it may be), and a sure-fire tactic of tanks and artillery. Guerilla warfare is expected if we push past NK lines.

"Are they just a paper tiger such as Iraq's armed forces proved to be, or would they be capable of holding their own against the US in a full-blown war?"

Iraq took a major blow in the first gulf war, and apparently they never recovered. From the North Koreans however, I'd expect heavy resistance, landmine-fields, AT ditches and emplacements, underground bunkers (extensive), and perhaps an aircraft or two that may still be flyable. I'd almost guarantee that Chinese field commanders will also be on the field either as advisors or directly commanding NK troops.

"Anybody have a sense of their capabilities?"

I doubt the CIA or NSA even has a full picture of the range of NK abilities and methods they may employ in a time of war.

"If they were to launch a full attack, I expect we would have to fall back initially, but would quickly stop the offensive. Then I expect it would be a slow, slugging match back up the peninsula."

That'd be my thought too. but a nagging thought still bites at me as to whether they plan to simply blow holes in the minefields with arty pieces, or if they developed a method of crossing/neutralising the mines fast enough to keep pace with a blitz heading south. At the moment, everything is up in the air.