Saturday, February 24, 2018

The South Korean Army Is Bigger Than The U.S. Army

A South Korean soldier takes part in a combined arms collective training exercise in Pocheon, South Korea September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji.

Kyle Mizokami, National Interest: South Korea's Army Has 560,000 Troops Ready to Take on Kim Jong Un

The Republic of Korea Army is a large, powerful land force capable defending the border from North Korean invasion. It’s no accident that the North Korean military has evolved asymmetric means such as long range border artillery, light infantry, infiltration forces, and chemical and radiological units to counter the South’s increasing technological superiority. The ROK Army has deterred war for the last seventy years, a benchmark of success for any peacetime army.

In the last seventy years, the Republic of Korea Army (ROK Army) has evolved from a constabulary force into one of the largest, most powerful, technologically advanced armies in the world. This remarkable evolution is entirely due to the original 1950–53 invasion and war by neighboring North Korea. This existential threat has never truly gone away, with North Korea consistently threatening—and preparing for—a second, successful invasion.

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WNU Editor: This is interesting .... the 560,000-strong ROK Army, which is only responsible for the defense of South Korea, is larger than the 475,000-strong U.S. Army, which has a global presence. This has prompted at least one U.S. general, who would assume control of the combined U.S-ROK armies in wartime, to quip “My army is bigger than my army.”

6 comments:

B.Poster said...

As a practical matter, the South Koreans will take control of US forces during wartime. Should US leaders resist, they will be executed. They won't resist.

If we could be freed from the South Korean yoke, it'd be much less problematic to negotiate some kind of accommodation with North Korea. China can have their f!ckimg century. It isn't like we can prevent it. Position ourselves properly and we can prosper within it.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
fred said...

Ah, flashback. I recall once being assigned to making sure reticent ROK soldiers got off a train when they were supposed to. I had to urge them with a bayonet. When the Lt asked me if I had done what I was assigned, I ansered:
Yes Sir. I got my ROKs off

War News Updates Editor said...

Fred,
LOL
I am not going to forget that line.

B.Poster said...

Fred,

That was then. This is now. As a practical matter, South Korea will take control of US forces in war time. I just hope South Korea has decent leadership should this transpire otherwise it's entirely possible that our people get fed to the dogs!!

B.Poster said...

Fred,

Thank you for your insight on the first Korean War. Your service is very much appreciated and cannot be expressed enough. Due to poor eyesight I was unable to serve on such a capacity.

With Americans such as yourself coming accross the ocean to selflessly serve in such a capacity for their freedom one wouldn't have thought they'd be so reluctant to get off the f!cking train to fight for their freedom. One would've thought they'd be most grateful to you and your fellow Americans. Apparently they weren't.

This actually further confirms my analysis. South Korea is an untrustworthy ally that can and will sell us out at the earliest opportunity. This does NOT mean we abandon the South Korean people. They are as much a victim of this situation as the American military and the American people are, perhaps more so. Obviously extreme care needs to be had when dealing with such snakes as South Korean leadership appears to be.