Sir, it's not that simple. SK is right over the border. Any nuclear explosion, the aftereffects will hit SK and Japan. Possibly the major cities in China near NK as well.
Seoul, a mega city, is built up virtually right to the DMZ. Folks who have never been there would have to see it to believe it.
The battle would be ugly. But then again, North Korea has no effective air force and there is a fair chance the North Korean army would implode into chaos and disorganization.
1 Megaton Surface Blast: Fallout One of the effects of nuclear weapons detonated on or near the earth’s surface is the resulting radioactive fallout. Immediately after the detonation, a great deal of earth and debris, made radioactive by the blast, is carried high into the atmosphere, forming a mushroom cloud. The material drifts downwind and gradually falls back to earth, contaminating thousands of square miles. This page describes the fallout pattern over a seven-day period.
Assumptions Wind speed: 15 mph Wind direction: due east Time frame: 7 days
3,000 Rem* Distance: 30 miles Much more than a lethal dose of radiation. Death can occur within hours of exposure. About 10 years will need to pass before levels of radioactivity in this area drop low enough to be considered safe, by U.S. peacetime standards.
900 Rem Distance: 90 miles A lethal dose of radiation. Death occurs from two to fourteen days.
300 Rem Distance: 160 miles Causes extensive internal damage, including harm to nerve cells and the cells that line the digestive tract, and results in a loss of white blood cells. Temporary hair loss is another result.
90 Rem Distance: 250 miles Causes a temporary decrease in white blood cells, although there are no immediate harmful effects. Two to three years will need to pass before radioactivity levels in this area drop low enough to be considered safe, by U.S. peacetime standards.
*Rem: Stands for “roentgen equivalent man.” This is a measurement used to quantify the amount of radiation that will produce certain biological effects.
Sir, it's not that simple. SK is right over the border. Any nuclear explosion, the aftereffects will hit SK and Japan. Possibly the major cities in China near NK as well.