They gave us a good run for our money with zero Chinese assistance, bottling up Walton Walker at Pusan, until MacArthur rolled them up starting with Inchon. Note that they were continuously pounded from the air by the Seventh Fleet and Air Force units, not to mention superior artillery forces with unlimited ammo, but the Pusan line resisted UN attack until Inchon. Today's NKPA is obviously better equipped than its 50's counterpart, and while it's no match for the ROK's, it would probably crush most Third World armies, let alone the LA gangs. I have no idea if today's North Koreans are anywhere near as stolid as their forebears in the 50's, but their infantry took punishing losses without flinching.
Yes. You know the history well. I think the next time our air power will be our winning card. It would be hard to stop the Nork infantry. We only have 30K U.S. Army troops backing up the South Koreans.
But one thing that could be a difference maker is that it’s not entirely clear how well fed the North Korean army is. If they launch an attack with minimal food supplies and the soldiers are already hungry... they could lose the will to fight. Punishing and relentless air attacks on Nork supply lines will be key.