More than 15 years ago, in a classified briefing (now outside the 7-year limit), some of us were briefed on Korea, as we were doing some “consulting.”.
Our forces there were nothing but a tripwire. Even if Norks did not use slime, they were expected to take country in 4 days.
One of the major reasons they did not, was that they would have no idea what do with SK if they conquered it.
That didn’t seem to be a concern to them in June, 1950 when they invaded SK, and ran roughshod over SK rather quickly, until the SK and US forces stopped them at Pusan.
One of the major reasons they did not, was that they would have no idea what do with SK if they conquered it.
Things have changed over the past 15 years—they likely will now follow the suggestions in post 2, first eating all the SK cereal and then all of the SK children.
U.S. has 38,000 personnel in South Korea. This force is not critical to the defense of South Korea. As to why we have any forces at all in South Korea, it is to assure South Korea that we have their back. We provide strategic deterrence. Plus, our radars and air dominance platforms change the battle space.
South Korea has 625,000 active personnel. It is South Korea that defends South Korea. North Korea has 1.1 million active personnel, 70 percent of whom are within 50 miles of the border. Not much more than a 1:1 ratio to the South Korean forces on the other side of the DMZ.
If I were a soldier in the South Korean army, I would be insulted to think I and my fellow soldiers would simply melt away like those pantywaist Iraqis did when ISIS showed up.