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It is timely, meaningful, and worthy to analyze North Korea’s capability to conduct provocations and the ROK-US combined capability to counter them with regard to Kim Jongil’s sudden death. North Korea’s military capability to conduct provocations is very strong and seriously threatening to South Korea. The comparison of South Korea’s conventional military power with that of North Korea showed that North Korea is superior in weapons quantity. South Korea is significantly superior to North Korea in terms of its advanced weapons quality, though. In practice, it was found that North Korea’s weapons systems are mostly old manual systems, whereas those of South Korea are mostly electronic systems. What is more, South Korea will be supported by the US Forces in Korea in major conflict situations. North Korea perceives well that it cannot defeat the ROK-US forces in a symmetric strategy. Thus, it is concentrating its military efforts on the development of weapons of mass destruction and the pursuit of a asymmetric strategy against the ROK-US combined forces. Thus, it would be very difficult to effectively counter North Korea’s surprise attacks or asymmetric provocations. Despite South Korea’s superior military capability, it would still be very difficult for it to respond effectively to surprise enemy attacks or asymmetric provocations. War history demonstrates well this kind of military conflict. It is one of the major tasks of the ROK-US combined forces to defend peace and security on the Korean peninsula, though. North Korea’s military power, Conventional military power, Asymmetric strategy, ROK-US combined forces