Such a strike could create a fatal break down of U.S. relations with China, endanger the security of Japan and South Korea and perhaps persuade them to seek nuclear weapons options of their own. A strike would not totally destroy North Korean capabilities, and would instead force the North Koreans to place their nuclear and missile programs even deeper underground and out of the view of the international community.

An attack would set back future negotiations between the West and North Korea by at least a decade. A unilateral missile strike would also endanger the security of the countries in South East Asia and encourage Iran to push ahead with its own nuclear program at a much faster rate. The US is seen by many in Asia as having double standards on the nuclear question, going ahead with a nuclear deal with India while trying to clamp down on Iran. A U.S. strike on North Korea will only aggravate the attitude of many countries towards the U.S.