[imText1]At present, the nation is in disorder over the issue of transferring military operations.
Defectors like the writer of this article do not support the proposal to return military operations from the U.S. back to nationalistic control.
While equipped with artillery, nuclear weapons and missiles North Korea is publicizing that reunification of the two Korea’s will occur once U.S. troops withdraw from South Korea.
Did the U.S. destroy a dream of unification? What is the basis of this argument? Although defectors say it isn’t so, why then are South Korean politicians spreading this perception. According to this writer, the U.S. did not ruin Korea’s dream of unification.
At the recent 7.27 anniversary marking the end of the Korean War, North Korea’s head military officer Kim Il Chul announced “Let’s fight for national revolution. Holding flags and supporting our dictator (Kim Jong Il), let’s fight for the victory of our nation’s autonomy and reunification.”
North Koreans are curious to know why South Korean authorities are turning a blind eye to their hopes of turning South Korea into communist military based nation.
The North Korea Workers’ Party argues that “The Party believes it can defeat the U.S. aggressive forces in South Chosun(Korea) and begin a colonization… Reunification is being built on the foundation of social democratization of the South Chosun people, the right to volunteer for combat, and as an independent peaceful country.”
“Discharge the U.S. and invite the dictator to unification grounds”
This is what the writer was taught during his time of military service. North Korea’s Army includes political and military service, with the main purpose of political service to educate soldiers on ideology.
Soldiers are drilled with an image that “The war fought is a ‘War of Justice’ striving for South Chosun’s independence from U.S. colonization. Even waste a single day cannot be wasted. We must wait on our dictator who will deliver reunification and independence for the South Chosun people who are moaning under U.S. oppression.”
The commanders who teach soldiers on artillery and strategies of war are military officials who have graduated from military universities. They say that the 40,000 or so U.S. forces in Korea (in 1990) are ‘awful beings.’ They assert that as soon as U.S. forces in Korea are driven out of the country, South Korea will be able to gain independence.
North Korea’s war power consists of 10,000 100mm long-range guns stationed at the Korean peninsula and thousands of 90mm rocket guns which could destroy Seoul if targeted. Next if aerial forces attack the rear ends of the nation, South Korea could become a ruin within seconds.
In addition, if 600,000 soldiers from the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th regiments attacked with tanks from the army corps then they would be able to force U.S. and Korean troops all the way to the Southern seas within a week. This is the North Korean war scenario. Even before U.S. soldiers could arrive on Korean terrain, they believe they could safeguard the east, west and south coasts of Korea.
In regards to the Korean war, commanders argue that the fundamental failure of the war was the 3 days of rest taken after the liberation of Seoul. As a result, the coast defense became frail and open to attack of landing operations at Incheon.
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Impossible to reduce conventional artillery, now with missiles and nuclear weapons
At present, the South Korean government says that the strength of the Korean army is stronger than the people’s army of North Korea.
There is some truth to the government’s allegation. North Korea has much of the conventional weaponry received from the Soviet Union in the 50’s and 60’s. Under the influence of Kosapo Command in Pyongyang, 100mm, 75mm, 37mm anti-aircraft artillery and 12.5mm old guns has been lost in aviation. Already, the mission is changed to military artillery and tanks.
However, despite conventional weaponry, North Korea will not cease its development of new artillery. In addition, North Korea is producing new and specialized missiles and nuclear weapons. Missile and nuclear sovereignty is not idle talk. On examination of the ‘scud missiles’ used by North Korea officers in the Gulf War of 1991, North Korea’s missile equipment indicates their content in modernization.
However, with defeat of Iraq the U.S. is deep in concern. Firstly, there is word that if the U.S. intervenes, pains may reoccur from a ‘Second 6.25 war.’ Thus, there is a struggle to withdraw U.S. troops in South Korea.
‘Mobilize South Chosun people and drive out the U.S. Army’
North Korea does not wish to drive out the U.S. army with militaristic force. Rather by changing the hearts of South Koreans to anti-U.S, it is anticipated that South Korea will directly expel the U.S. Until then, North Korea will wait and prepare for the day it will rein. As a result, the North Korean military is mobilizing it’s soldiers in 4 regiments towards the line of success.
Nowadays, if you look at South Korea’s situation, North Korea’s strategy and objectives seem to be materializing. As feelings of anti-U.S. and word of U.S. troop withdrawal rises, Kim Jong Il’s military first politics is becoming more and more apparent.
The current issue of military operations raises alarm bells as North Korea carefully and zealously monitors the transfer of military control. If military control is transferred to South Korea, then the Korea-U.S Mutual Security Agreement of 1954 will be abolished and expectedly U.S. troops in Korea will be withdrawn.
Now, North Korea will earnestly anticipate the withdrawal of U.S. troops. If in future, a war does arise, North Korea hopes to instigate a ‘domestic war’ as the scope for U.S. military intervention will diminish with South Korea having denounced foreign power.
If military control is transferred, North Korea will most probably use another excuse to demand withdrawal of U.S. troops. If we believe North Korea’s exact words, they will most probably request for a greater reduction of U.S. troops, or simply ask them to leave.
One cannot understand why North Korea’s strategy is becoming more apparent. As South Korea’s confidence is overthrown and relations with the U.S. problematic, the Republic of Korea needs to examine North Korea’s basis and not incur destruction upon itself.
