I get what you're saying. Keep in mind that my analysis is a best-case-scenario. However, I don't think that the average, malnourished and mistreated citizen of North Korea will dig in and fight against the south if it came down to it.

They don't have modern weapons or firearms to fight with. If they did, it's likely they would've used them in food riots long before now. Like you said, they have weapon caches that would likely be distributed to citizens, but I think they'd be apprehensive about doing that as well out of fear that citizens would turn against them.

As far as the propaganda goes, most of the citizens in the DPRK have lived their entire lives in a vacuum, but they still hear rumors about life outside of their borders to the south and to the north in China as well. That's why people defect. Even active military, like the soldier who escaped a few months back whose body was riddled with parasites.

I suppose I also should've prefaced my original comment with my belief that we not do anything regarding North Korea without a green light from China. Concessions would be made with them regarding borders, and it would be likely that China would benefit by annexing a certain portion of the north.

Also, just to make it very clear... I don't support nation building, but I think the citizens of the DPRK deserve a better life than the one they currently have. And one with more opportunities like their neighbors to the south, and honestly, even their neighbors to the north in China.