Perhaps we are taking the wrong approach on this. I believe that North Korea wouldn't do anything unless they felt like they had some sort of backing from China. I think we need to apply pressure on China to get their little cousin to straighten up. China=Hitler, North Korea=Mussolini
Better yet, give 'em a whole plant. That Smithers outfit in Springfield may be willing to build it. I bet they'd even let Homer Simpson be the safety inspector.
We have been doing so--very hard pressure, in fact. But the Chinese don't want to offer up a long-term ally. It's both a matter of "face" and of China needing to get something in return. What they want in return is Taiwan. And we have not been willing to let China have Taiwan without a fight. Not yet.
You are correct in that France will go with whomever offers them the best opportunity to become a world power again. But that happens to be with NATO and the US and France knows it. They just don't like it. They bitch and moan and talk big. The French will always be unreliable and recalcitrant allies, but it is unlikely that they will line up with our enemies for the reason you stated above . . . in ain't in their best interests to do so. Just like in Desert Storm, in a new World War the French would come along, sulking and muttering and suspicious as usual, but they will fight with us. Where we will have to contest the French is in the economic arena. They will try to gain every advantage they can including trading with our enemies as long as a shooting war isn't going on. Of course, we do the same to them. C'est la guerre.
