“Why are we risking US blood and treasure in this far away peninsula when the south Koreans are perfectly capable of defending themselves?”
1) South Korea doesn’t have the capability and any exchange would necessarily wipe out Seoul.
2) North Korea is threatening us, not South Korea. They are using SK as a foil.
3) There will be US treasure involved, but I doubt much if any blood will be spilled on our side. Delivering Nukes, doesn’t involve a lot of folks, and surely no ground troops, particularly after a nuclear strike.
4) I just imagine that we have a defense treaty with South Korea.
“4) I just imagine that we have a defense treaty with South Korea.‘
What we have is an armistice. We are still officially at war with the NORKS.