South Korean Defence Strategy - Mass, Firepower, Industry & Existential Threats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZw_YGzxCc ^ | 7/21/2023 | Perun

[Chode]

Across other videos I've often hinted at the Republic of Korea as something of a military outlier. A major power that, at a time that other forces are battling a shortage of artillery, manpower or heavy equipment - still had all of the above at its disposal in serious quantities.

Because whereas many other nations in places like Europe embraced the peace dividend of the 1990s, the ROK's strategic context remained complex and threatening - with North Korea's massive conventional (and now nuclear) arsenal constantly ready to resume a war that never officially ended.

The ROK's defence strategy is a story of a nation having to make sacrifices and prioritise in order to contain and deter serious threats within the limits of the nation's limited resources. It's an interesting study in a major military for whom mass and artillery firepower remain key tools of deterrence and security - and it is likewise a story of a nation that has gone from a minor actor in the international arms market, to an increasingly major player.

And so today, I want to talk about the Republic of Korea, its unique strategic environment, and the strategy it's embraced to survive and thrive in it.

[Chode]

weekly Perun...

[MuttTheHoople]

Yet, why does SK need 40,000 Americans over there as a trip-wire?

[Wuli]

“Yet, why does SK need 40,000 Americans over there as a trip-wire?”

That trip wire is itself a huge defensive action because if tripped by North Korea it means South Korea has much more than just its own means at its disposal. There is every possibility that that trip wire has caused North Korea to NOT initiate another war.

[ModelBreaker]

I hadn’t thought about this. But if China goes after Taiwan, I expect NK will go after SK.

That would keep SK out of the conflict with China and the US would be busy with China and might not be able to prevent a SK loss.

[ealgeone]

A strategery the US needs to consider.

[sauropod]

.

[Chode]

yup, never let a crisis got waste...

[popdonnelly]

We don’t bother to defend our southern border.

[Chode]

*

[MuttTheHoople]

Here's what I believe is the real reason:

In 1998, I did a two-week TDY with my National Guard unit in Seoul. I ran into an old American Sergeant and asked him just this question.

His reply was that while the South Korean Army is well-trained and can fight savagely, their senior officer Corps is political and not merit-based, and are indecisive when having to make quick decisions.

[Wuli]

If that old American Sargent you met in Seoul is correct about the officer core in the South Korean military, then trip wire or not the South will lose a war in the first 48 hours and before American firepower from outside Korea can turn the tide. It is in those first 48 hours that quick thinking decisions will make all the difference and failure to think fast will mean mounting wrong decisions and mounting bad consequences.

I am hoping that that old American Sargent you met in Seoul is wrong and knows less than he think he does about the officer core of the South Koreans.

And if he is not wrong, then our trip wire will mean that as in the 1950s we will have to take over managing all the operations of our own and the South Korean forces, and with the blessing of the political leadership in the South.

[MuttTheHoople]

Maybe a lot has changed since then. The individual ROK soldier is tough, and they've sent troops to support the US in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. However, I still wonder about the South Korean Generals, whether they are promoted through merit or political connections.

The story that old Sergeant told me was, two staffs were given a scenario problem to solve by their commanders on Wednesday afternoon to be completed by the following Monday. The American staff got up early Thursday morning, stayed late that night, got up early and completed it and presented it to the CO at Lunch. Then they went home for a long weekend.

The ROK Staff got the same problem on a Wednesday. They stayed up all day and night Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...and still didn't have the scenario solved on Monday.

The only thing that would be in South Korea's favor, is that the North Korean Army hasn't seen any major combat in 70 years. All those Generals with medals going down the front of their tunic to their legs

Sure didn't get them for anything done on the battlefield. All the North Korean officers advanced through their loyalty to the Kim dynasty.

[Wuli]

Though the North does not have a technical edge, the north has a numbers of troops edge - 1.2 mil versus 500,000 for the South. China did not have any technical age in Korea in the 1950s, but they had an overwhelming numbers edge. If N.Kore were about to be defeated would today’s China enter on their side as rhey did in the 1950s? No on knows.