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The problem is that you guys are assuming the ROK maintains token forces while expecting Uncle Sam, like so many of our NATO partners. The problem is that their forces are already formidable. A 500 plane air force, 500,000 man army and a 160 ship navy are nothing to sneeze at. However, North Korea is starving its civilians to feed and equip its immense army. They have the fourth largest army on Earth, with a reserve component larger than the South's entire army...gee, think they'll call those guys up if they invade? Their special forces alone are larger than the entire armies of most nations.

Navy? 708 vessels vs. 160. Air Force? Over 1,500 vs. 500. Granted, it's in the Air that differences in quality will mean the most, but the Norks can use what are basically suicide planes to keep the South on defense in the air for crucial hours or days before the ROKAF could focus all their attention on ground attack. Those hours or days would be crucial, probably decisive.

And all of this comparison ignores the fact that the artillery barrage starting a Nork invasion would probably be the largest artillery barrage since the world wars, if not bigger.

Bottom line: The ROK is already doing what it needs to do in order to defend itself, and it will not be enough. Anyone who says this is none of our affair can say that. But if they say it, they must also say that they are comfortable ceding the Korean peninsula to the Juche Fruit family. To say otherwise is completely unrealistic.