New topic just to focus on how to solve this problem.

As I see it there are really 4 main options.

1. China needs to come to the realization organically or with outside pressure that a nuclear and saber rattling NK is not good for China. It will create a war, massive losses, human refugee crisis flooding their nation, and economic ruin in the region. Nukes likely will be traded and then China has a real tough decision. And the US can cancel trillions in debt to China with a pen stroke I believe. Then China can either pressure NK or assassinate Kim.

2. Pre-emptive strike will kill millions in N Korea, and anything less than total instant ruin, will result in a N Korea response somewhere, probably to S. Korea, and millions there could die. We could try to just devastate with EMPs and bugs in their computers but they have conventional weapons just miles away from SK major cities.

3. Park so much hardware in the region that it sends a very clear message we mean business.

4. Wait for a strike, and then retaliate with everything and make NK a footnote in history. Waiting for a retaliation is probably necessary to get buy in from the world unfortunately. Meanwhile, this means NK could continue to improve and build while we sit and wait... not a great option for several reasons.
This kick the can policy is the reason China, Pakistan, Iran, etc. have become or will become nuclear powers.

We have bad options and no good ones.

Move anti-missile stuff to SK, if it hasn't already. React only. They shoot something, we shoot it down. One time.

Next time they shoot something, We shoot it down, and then hands off "Shock and Awe". Let the our military decide when to stop.

I wasn't around for the Korean war, but it seems to me that Russia and China created this problem.

I agree with your point #4, we probably need to wait for North Korea to strike first.

I have a feeling that China is hoping that North Korea destroys South Korea, and then China can move in and take over both countries. They are already expanding their territory in the South china Sea, trying to take over the ocean. Wouldn't surprise me if they want Korea too.

I personally recommend we tell China that we will not attack North Korea no matter what. Instead, for everything North Korea does, we'll do 10x to China. China created the problem, China lives next to them, China continues to support and enable them, China will pay the price.

We have multiple NK threads, let's keep them together.