While I agree that the U.S. is the preeminent military power in the world today, there are a few factors undiscussed in this assessment:
1. The U.S was allowed to build its forces close to Iraq unharrassed.
2. The U.S. carrier fleet was not attacked.
3. The U.S. GPS satellite system was not compromised.
4. The U.S. shipping lines were not attacked.
5. The U.S. manufacturing capability was not attacked.
Any military power that would consider future engagements with the U.S. must be looking at these right now.
Yes. N. Korea has a couple hundred subs. Mostly old and slow -- but in a defensive posture, old, slow electric subs are damned dangerous to a carrier fleet. Anyone who thinks our fast attacks and satellite surveillance will just wipe them out has been reading too much Tom Clancy. Yes, we would wipe them out, but not fast and not without taking return torpedoes.