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U.S. Would Send 690,000 Troops to Korea If War Breaks Out: Report
Yonhap News Worldservice (S Korea) ^

Posted on 12/27/2002 12:37:59 PM PST by RCW2001

Seoul, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- The United States would deploy some 690,000 troops to augment the 37,000-strong American military presence already here if war should break out on the peninsula, a Defense Ministry report showed Friday.

   The augmented forces would comprise of Army divisions, carrier battle groups with highly-advanced fighters, tactical fighter wings, and marine expeditionary forces in Okinawa and on the U.S. mainland, according to the "1998-2002 Defense Policy." The ministry published the report instead of a white paper.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
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To: Dog
ping
21 posted on 12/27/2002 12:53:33 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
nkorea sent scuds to iraq---death wish!
22 posted on 12/27/2002 12:54:59 PM PST by f.Christian
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To: SamAdams76
Right on. If we all took a quick tour of Hell, we could ask Neville Chamberlain, by appeasing evil up front how many lives did you cost? Answer: Millions.
23 posted on 12/27/2002 12:55:13 PM PST by Republic of Texas
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To: Sparta
We're screwed unless we restart the draft. Problem is, I think most of our young people will run for Mexico and Canada if the draft is restarted.

It's not just the young people. 50% of the population does not want to fight against our enemies. I am 22, so if there is a draft, I will go. I saw the World Trade Center collapse up close and I'll try my best to prevent my city from getting nuked.

24 posted on 12/27/2002 12:55:37 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: Sparta
Maybe that would be a fair trade for all of the Mexican people who have crossed the border into the USA.
25 posted on 12/27/2002 12:57:27 PM PST by JimmyMc
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To: RCW2001
Bwahahahahahahaha....

We are asking German troops to guard our bases in Germany while we are away tending to Saddam. What a laugh.

26 posted on 12/27/2002 12:57:31 PM PST by cynicom
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To: RCW2001
Check out this thread currently running...mentions this 690,000 number

What A New War in Korea Might Look Like

Phase 3 US Counterattack

The US plans are based on the belief that the North Koreans would not be successful in consolidating their gains around Seoul and would be pushed back across the DMZ -- though the plans assume the North may break through the DMZ in places. A critical issue is strategic warning of unambiguous signs that North Korea is preparing an attack. The warning time has reportedly been shortened from about ten days to about three days as North Korea has covered its military activities.

The United States and ROK have developed as series of plans to counter a potential DPRK attack. The first plan would be a preemptive strike against DPRK positions to counter an emanate North Korean offensive. Likely targets in a preemptive attack are likely to be artillery positions and bombers before they could be activated. Under this plan, the ROK and the United States, both must agree that a DPRK attack is eminent and that a preemptive strike is necessary.

The second plan would go into effect following a North Korea attack. Since the late 90’s the United States has developed OPLAN 5027, which includes defense of the southern peninsula as well as direct assaults against North Korean targets beyond the DMZ and “defeating them in detail”. This “defeat in detail” is said to include provisions to seize Pyongyang and instituted regime change.

In these provisions, the United States would attempt to bring roughly half of its combat force to reinforce forces already in place. According to the 04 December 2000 South Korean Defense Ministry White Paper, the United States would deploy up to 690,000 troops 160 Navy ships and 1,600 aircraft deployed from the U.S. within 90 days on the Korean peninsula if a new war breaks out.

The U.S.-ROK defense plan would be shaped not only by the threat but also by the mountainous terrain. Korea is commonly regarded as rugged infantry terrain that invites neither mobile ground warfare nor heavy air bombardment, but North Korea has assembled large armored forces that are critical to exploiting breakthroughs, and these forces would pass down narrow corridors that are potential killing zones for U.S. airpower. U.S.-ROK forces would conduct a vigorous forward defense aimed at protecting Seoul. Their campaign would be dominated by combined-arms ground battles waged with infantry, artillery, and armor. U.S. air and naval forces would conduct close air support, interdiction, and deep strike missions. After Phase 1, U.S.-ROK operations in Phase 2 would probably focus on seizing key terrain, inflicting additional casualties on enemy forces, and rebuffing further attacks. Phase 3, to start when the U.S. ground buildup was complete and ROK forces were replenished would be a powerful counteroffensive aimed at restoring the ROK's borders and destroying the DPRK's military power.

A major air campaign against northern forces would be required before the counteroffensive could begin. A US Marine Expeditionary Force (in division strength) and the 82nd Air Assault Division, along with ROK divisions, would launch an overland offensive north toward Wonsan from the east coast. Soon thereafter, a combined US-ROK force would likely stage an amphibious landing near Wonsan, and advance to Pyongyang. Subsequently, a combined US-ROK force would execute a major counteroffensive from north of Seoul aimed at seizing Pyongyang. This would be achieved either by linking up with the force at Wonsan, or meeting it at Pyongyang.

North Korea, devastated during the Korean War, also places great emphasis on maintaining a strong defense. To achieve the strategic defense mission, North Korea has established defensive belts. They are designed to defeat any attack from ground or amphibious forces. The main strategic belt runs from the DMZ to Pyongyang. This belt contains over two-thirds of the DPRK's active maneuver ground forces. Ground defense along this belt is carried out by MPAF and corps level units.

Two army-level headquarters may be activated for wartime operations. The navy provides coastal defense, and the army provides ground anti-landing defense. The air force and anti air artillery units of the army provide defense of DPRK airspace. At the initiation of a DPRK ground offensive, the North's reserve forces, numbering some 5 million, would man a pre-established, in-depth national defense network.

Tasks performed during the Destruction Phase of the OPLAN reportedly involve a strategy of maneuver warfare north of the Demilitarized Zone with a goal of terminating the North Korea regime, rather than simply terminating the war by returning North Korean forces to the Truce Line. In this phase operations would include the US invasion of North Korea, the destruction of the Korean People’s Army and the North Korean government in Pyongyang. The plan includes the possibility of a Marine amphibious assault into the narrow waist of North Korea to cut the country in two. US troops would occupy north Korea and "Washington and Seoul will then abolish north Korea as a state and ‘reorganize’ it under South Korean control.

27 posted on 12/27/2002 12:58:38 PM PST by RCW2001
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To: SamAdams76
When the Allies refused to enforce the conditions of the 1918 Armistice and allowed Germany to rebuild its strength, the die was cast for another world war.

Bingo! All this leftie crap about Germany being too harshly punished after the World War 1 is a bunch of garbage. I took a course about World War 1 in college, and I found out that the architects of the peace plan (especially France) said that Germany was not being punished enough and that the Treaty of Versailles was a peace plan that would last just 20 years.

28 posted on 12/27/2002 12:59:33 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: Sparta
Can we pass a new law?

A Pre-requisite for voting is prior military service, membership to an active ROTC unit with signed contracts, or membership in the Peace Corps.

29 posted on 12/27/2002 1:01:12 PM PST by PokeyJoe
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To: RCW2001
If we start a draft....

the illegal immigrants will leave.
30 posted on 12/27/2002 1:01:38 PM PST by MedicalMess
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To: PokeyJoe
Other than being unconstitutional, sound idea.
31 posted on 12/27/2002 1:02:45 PM PST by Republic of Texas
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To: MedicalMess
They won't be drafted. Now if we end welfare, free education and medical care. They WILL leave.
32 posted on 12/27/2002 1:03:42 PM PST by Republic of Texas
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To: RCW2001
Army service in South Korea is mandatory, I believe. They have 650,000 men at arms at any given time, I believe. NK has a million. Might this be the numbers they are talking about?

33 posted on 12/27/2002 1:06:31 PM PST by Glenn
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To: RCW2001
Last time the Chinese came into the peninsula and fought with the North Koreans against the United States. Part Deux?
34 posted on 12/27/2002 1:09:27 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: LdSentinal
If they come to Mexico...we'll send them back.
35 posted on 12/27/2002 1:15:51 PM PST by rovenstinez
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To: Republic of Texas
So, that little thing called the consititution didn't stop the democRATs.

Besides, we can always amend it. =)

36 posted on 12/27/2002 1:18:00 PM PST by PokeyJoe
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To: Sparta
Sadly, I concur. What I see here in Washington state, these leftist would not defend their homes, block or city, much less this republic. They are weak kneed, need constant mothering, dress like Elvira, and are totally limp and lame. If a draft were started, I seriously doubt 50% would show up.
37 posted on 12/27/2002 1:21:33 PM PST by RetiredArmy
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To: RetiredArmy
First, thanks for your service to our country.

these leftist would not defend their homes, block or city, much less this republic.

Defend this republic or the Republic of Korea? I see nearly every able bodied man (and many women) showing up to defend the former, but not many for the latter.

If a draft were started, I seriously doubt 50% would show up.

Oh, they'll show up all right. On election day. Institute a draft, and even Hillary could get elected.

38 posted on 12/27/2002 1:27:18 PM PST by freeeee
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To: LdSentinal
I commend your patriotism and sense of duty, you sound like a fine young man. I urge you and other young people to educate yourself as much as possible about the hows and whys of current events so that you'll better understand why your life could be on the line someday. The reason I say this is my son is 16 and I fear that someday he could be drafted and sent to some third world hellhole to protect the interests of BIG OIL instead of somewhere more sensible like our own borders.

Some things don't seem to make sense about the current drumbeat for war coming from Washington. We're set to unleash hell on Saddam, who might've had some role in 9/11 but the fact is the majority of hijackers were from Saudi Arabia and our political/media never misses a chance to kiss their collective butts. We've played footsie with N. Korea for years and there's no doubt that they're recent actions are being co-ordinated to create a possible two war front scenario that would sap the USA of men and $. We have troops stationed in almost 100 nations protecting the populace and even defending foreign borders but somehow that idea is never been implemented on our southern border, thus allowing murderers, rapists, car thieves, etc. to enter our country without impunity thus allowing them to wreak all sorts of havoc on Americans. During the first Gulf War we bombed the hell out of Iraq, causing untold deaths of innocent people then our fedgov with all their wisdom decided to import former Iraqui soldiers into areas like Okla. City and guess what happened there. (Any skeptics as to Iraqui involvement should read Jayna Davis' reports).

My point is things may not always be what they seem on the surface and the actions of our fedgov just totally defy logic and common sense when it's sorely needed. My belief is that these conflicts could easily be avoided by using intelligence agencies to eradicate a known terrorist person or group at a greatly reduced cost to the taxpayers yet our alleged leaders still push ahead with their plans for military action against these boogie men. There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle and slowly the final product is becoming clearer all the time and I don't think it will be a very pretty sight when all is said and done. My hope and prayer for many young men and women is that if they're forced to put their life on the line, it's for the best interests of America and not those of a few world elitists.
39 posted on 12/27/2002 1:29:11 PM PST by american spirit
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To: RetiredArmy
I would expect S. Korea to furnish the army. Let them draft their kids, first. From the protest pictures I've observed, there seem to be plenty of them with too much time on their hands.
40 posted on 12/27/2002 1:39:15 PM PST by monkeywrench
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