[IvanT]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

[kevao]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

Depends on whether N. Korea really has nukes, and how many.

[JaimeD2]

I don't think anybody wants to find out. Iraq couldn't harm Kuwait this time. North Korea has been in a perpetual state of military readiness for the past fifty years; its army is ready for immediate deployment, and would likely overrun Seoul and kill millions of South Koreans within days of the first sign of an invasion. Add to that the possibility of nukes, and the equation looks like this: we'll eventually win, but millions will die in South Korea, and there may not be a Seoul or Tokyo left at the end of it.

[ApesForEvolution]

I believe the northcomm stew is a completely different kettle of fish heads. Artillery poised on Seoul seems to be one of two main heads that needs to be cut off immediately. The other would be missiles/nukes.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

Yes it would. If not there is an Ohio Class Boomer in the East China Sea and another in the Sea of Japan. Together they carry 388 nuclear warheads and that will shock and awe your socks off ..........

[jackbill]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

Unfortunately, no. The instant that we make an aggressive move against N. Korea, they would unleash tens of thousands of artillery pieces which are in range of Seoul - a city of more than 11 million people.

Our Patriot missiles can knock down a missile, but nothing could stop the artillery. It would be Seoul that would be "shocked and awed".

Certainly, in the long run - nukes or not - we would prevail, but at the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of South Koreans.

And that is probably the only thing that is holding us back.

[Leatherneck_MT]

It would take longer and we would suffer more casualties to be sure, but the end result would be the same. If the Chinese decided to get involved like they did in the 50's, we would have a decidedly different outcome from what we had in the 50's. Our Force Multipliers would so overwhelm any attacking force that there would not be much left on the other side but dead bodies and squeeking wheels.

Semper Fi

[Zack Nguyen]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

The problem with North Korea is the fact that they have huge amounts of artillery. With Seoul just 40 miles away or so, they could kill huge numbers of people before we would be able to destroy all of their artillery.

Other than that, North Korea is a starving mess. They have been Communist for so long that their economy is at a standstill. Essentially they have no economy. Very little is bought, sold, or traded. Everyone fends for themselves, and most suspect that food aid is redirected to government officials and the army.

[blam]

"I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?"

I don't think so, we'll need to start with 200-500 MOABs. (I wouldn't want to be on the north side of the DMZ.)

[AFreeBird]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

Nope, a different one. One taylor made for NK - as successful campaigns invite further study by all, unsuccessful ones - don't.