Obviously the South Koreans and Japanese count, and if North Korea executed a first strike obviously there would be casualties, that's just how war is. But the outcome is certain, and Kim Jong-Il is like most dictators, most concerned with his continued rule. Executing a first strike against us would guarantee the end of his rule of North Korea, if not the end of his life. And firing on South Korea or Japan would be no different than if he fired on Hawaii or California. It would be the end of him.
I'm quite well aware of the situation in the region, father served there, friends served there, and have studied the region, wrote a hypothetical scenario about war in Korea in the late 20th century years ago and did a lot of research for that. So thanks, but I do know a thing or two about the region, it's people, economic and industrial importance, and the numbers of American military personnel and civilians there, as well as it's proximity to Japan and American territories. But even if he unloaded a heavy conventional first strike, it would not result in tens of thousands of casualties, and most of that artillery would not be around long enough for a second massive wave of attacks.
And unlike the Muslim islamo-fascists, the North Koreans have no such illusions about virgins or some great afterlife like the Muslims do. And on top of that, the South Koreans are mean MFers and would retaliate on their own against the North Koreans with extreme prejudice. The VC and NVA would go miles out of their way to avoid South Korean troops in Vietnam when they were there. After the South Koreans captured some VC and stripped the skin off of them, and tortured them horribly over the course of hours, releasing a couple to tell their friends, the VC and NVA went out of their way to avoid engaging the South Koreans from about '68 on. The ruthlessness of the South Koreans is almost unprecedented. That certainly can't be overlooked. We should hire them as mercs and send them to Iraq. They could end the terrorist presence there much quicker than we can because they don't give a fuzzy rip about the Geneva Convention, which the VC and the islamo fascists don't obey either anyway.
In any case, please try to not talk to me like I'm stupid and ignorant of the Korean Peninsula, okay? It's kinda patronizing. :) Thanks.
By the time airpower does arrive to destroy the artillery would Seoul be a heap of rubble due to the reign of artillery shells? Read my post number 84
You made a rather simplistic statement earlier. I wasn't sure if you were unconcerned about those lives, or ignorant of their peril. What you have posted since makes clear that your post was merely intended to emphasize the relative danger Kim is in compared to us. I apologize if my response seemed patronizing--I thought it a point that needed to be made in the event you WERE unaware or unconcerned about these people.
Yeah, the ROKs rocked.