N. Korea Deploys Mortars and Multiple Rocket Launchers at Sino-NK border

Yonhap News ^ | 05/26/10 | Cha Dae-un

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my summary

N. Korea Deploys Mortars and Multiple Rocket Launchers at Sino-NK border

122mm multiple rocket launcher, the same type N. Korea deployed at the border area.

N. Korea deployed 82mm mortars to border guard units.

Each border guard company now has a fire support platoon equipped with 82mm mortars. Each platoon has at least 4 mortars. The process started in February and is now complete.

Border guard units used to be armed only with light weapons such as rifles because their main mission is to deter people from illegal entry to or escape from N. Korea.

Border guard units now have firepower equal to regular infantry units.

The explanation N. Korean authorities gave (to its population or soldiers) is that it was for deterring invasion by S. Korean commandos through China.

Radio Free Asia also reported on May 26 that mortars, recoilless rifles, and machine guns were deployed to border guard units.

/end my summary

[GonzoGOP]

Correction: Hmm... 122mm MRL is not quite useful for shooting at escaping refugees.

I don't know. Considering how well armed the Mexican drug gangs are I wouldn't mind having a battery of MLRS backing my action if I tried to stop them.

[wtc911]

At what point, if any, do you think DPRK would use, or attempt to use, their nuclear weapon(s)?

______________________________________

With a certified head case at the wheel, who can predict?

It would not surprise me though if (assuming this did happen) Japan were the target.

[jhpigott]

Odd move. Makes me wonder if Kim thinks China is going to make a move to overthrow him or make a grab for his nuke facilities.

[wtc911]

The older generation would be opposed, but many of the young generation of South Koreans are in favor of reunification at any cost.

____________________________________

That contradicts my rather lengthy experience with the people of South Korea, both old and young. Do not be fooled by the occasional reports of anti-American protests on campuses.

[Nervous Tick]

>> It would not surprise me though if (assuming this did happen) Japan were the target.

Strategic use, not tactical, eh?

I’d predict he’d use them against the South and US forces, if hostilities break out. But you’re right... who can predict?

[crazydad]

Wait talk to some old German Soldiers or Americans that had the Katushka or Nebelwerfer shot at them and see how effective it was against Infantry... Civies would be slaughtered...

[TigerLikesRooster]

Chia Head did not get where he is by letting his guard down even for a long-time ally. To him, China is a devious beast which can devour him if not kept in check. Especially these days when he feel he need to play outside the boundary China is comfortable with. Even lean on China if he has to.

[MSF BU]

My experience there was that they certainly dislike the Japanese and are not especially friendly with the Chinese. They tended to like us, at least comparatively. It helps also that a large number of Koreans now have relatives in the United States.

[GOPsterinMA]

The Vice Guide to North Korea provided some really good insight into North Korea.

http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3

Currently the content is unavailable. Interesting.

[MadJack]

Sounds like the producer of Pulgasauri and Greatest Golfer in the Known Universe is getting ready for a Viking funeral.

[Larry381]

The multiple rocket launcher is a nasty weapons system. The Soviets used it to good effect on the Eastern Front during the war to pound German assembly areas. While the explosion of the rockets creates minimal shrapnel it's the blast effect that causes most of the damage causing its victims to suffer massive bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose, mouth etc for any troops, or civilians inside the blast radius. While the German NEBELWERFER was a more effective weapon the fact was the German troops had nowhere near enough of them during the war.

[piytar]

Nobody seems to know, but most estimates range from 3 to 5. Deliverability is also an open question, with the highest estimate I’ve seen being 3 mounted on missiles. Open question if those could hit Japan. Probably the only way they could do that is by putting one on a container ship.

These are fision bombs - multi-kiloton. Not fusion bombs - multi-megaton.

In short, enough to cause some real destruction and pain, but not near enough to stop China if that nation decides to take out Chia Pet.

PS From the CIA factbook, China’s PLA is an order of magnitude larger than the entire population of North Korea...

[GonzoGOP]

China’s PLA is an order of magnitude larger than the entire population of North Korea

Comparing China to any other country results in numbers that rapidly blow the mind. When close to two billion people decide to all do the same thing there isn't much that is going to stop them.

[Lurker]

is that it was for deterring invasion by S. Korean commandos through China.

ROFL.....

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I read somewhere that China had moved troops into that

border area,,,(blocking force ?),,,

If the Chinese come across that border 122’s and mortars

ain’t even gunna slow them down,,,

Very strange...

[TxGrandMom]

I have been wondering about the rationale behind North Korea’s constantly provocative behavior.

Possibilities I have considered:

1) they really think they can win, resulting in attaching S Korea’s prosperity to them;

2) they know if the US gets involved & “wins”, the US will then help them afterward;

3) they have been encouraged/manipulated by certain other countries in order to distract the US & divide the US’ attention/military resources;

4) Post #31 (PugetSoundSoldier) “Chia Head wants a war to get more materiel and food from China, and to solidify the NK army behind his son. So he sank the Cheosan to start tensions. But he forgot to ask Beijing.”

We (the US) have a tendency to forget that we are not the main power throughout the whole world, and that others (in this case, China) may be of more concern/influence in the behavior/reasoning of other countries, such as North Korea.

I appreciate the comments by some of the knowledgeable people on this thread. They have increased my limited understanding of the region.

Thanks.

[NCDragon]

Excellent analysis! I too think this to be the case, he has nothing left to bargain with for the much needed food and raw materials his puppet guv’mint must have.

Why not start a war? If China intercedes diplomatically, he can barter pulling out of SK for the supplies he needs. If China chooses to move militarily, he and his regime go out in a blaze of glory.

IF he can roll into SK a good distance before another cease fire, (which I don’t believe his army is capable of), then he will have damaged his rivals on the peninsula and won a moral victory with his puppet population.

I feel for our troops of the 8th Army, THEY are going to be the sacrificial lambs to the slaughter of this madness.

[NonValueAdded]

aimed out or in?

[gogogodzilla]

Not to mention it’d be a quick and effective way for China to spend some of that huge mountain of dollars it’s accumulated over the years.

[Personal Responsibility]

Yes, it is. My guess is it’s not to attack China. Rather, they would use them to attack refugees trying to get into China.