I understand the thinking, and of course a strong economy is a great weapon, a long term necessity for survival. However you have to keep the other guy from killing you in the meantime.
S Korea’s army is vastly superior to lil Kim’s, the only thing that makes it at all interesting is if lil Kim uses a scorched earth tactic and destroys Seoul. A protracted battle of any sort means Kim’s head on a stick.
Just a different perspective here on North and South Korea based on the opinions of a few South Koreans.
Last month I was in Saigon on a business trip. Several people I ended up going to dinner with that night were South Korean Bankers (lots of investing going on in Saigon). I posed the question about removing our troops are keeping them in S/K.
The feelings are that most younger Koreans, 50’s and younger would like the US to leave. Older Koreans, who were around during the war, like the security. The government of S/K appreciates the aid the US sends them.
They informed me that S/K military is more than capable of defending themselves against N/K accept of course if they lob a couple of nuclear missiles into downtown Seoul. Makes sense, however, they added, the US would not be able to protect them from those same missiles.
Apparently the US is sitting on some prime real estate in downtown Seoul. We have agreed or already in the process of building a new base outside of Seoul so developers can utilize the prime property. Should cost a pretty penny to build a new base.
Also the developers and government are looking at the prospect of developing in the DMZ, once it is dismantled.
Who knows, in the next 5-10 years, we may be asked to leave South Korea for good as new thinking comes in to the government and the economic value and partnership out weighs the federal aid we provide them.
The wall came down in Berlin, maybe the same happens with Korea.