I think it's high time we pull our troops from S Korea whatever the outcome of these threats, talks, negotiations. We can tell S. Korea that we will not allow one million N. Koreas to over run them but we are not going to allow 37k US troops be held hostage over this bs. Once our troops are out, a big deterrent on our part has been removed. S. Korea can start squawking about it to the international community in a way they never have with our troops in harms way.
I have a cousin there. USAF.
"Once our troops are out, a big deterrent on our part has been removed."
Actually, removing our troops would free our hands in dealing with South Korea. The reason we can't consider hitting the PDRK now is the fear that they will destroy Seoul immediately. If the South Koreans kick us out over this issue, we can do what we want without worrying about the blow back to our former "ally."
A rearming Japan will cause fear not just in Pyongyang and Beijing, but Seoul and Moscow too. If those dopes refuse to back us over this issue, we can simply help Tokyo rearm, threaten Pyongyang with nuclear Armageddon, and sit back and watch the Chinese, Russkies and ROCs try to deal with the situation on their own.
Good points. IMO, we should pull back all US troops from the DMZ. At this point, we tell the ROK that they now have total control of their border with NK. US troops take defensive positions in and around the capitol of the ROK.
Deploy aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan and the Gulf of Korea. That way, should NK decide to demonstrate with infantry or artillery, the US troops are out of the way, and the tools to slap NK are in place.
This sends a stronger message to the ROK and at the same time keeps them from freaking out regarding total redployment of US troops.
I truly believe if NK wanted to send a couple of hundred thousand troops to the ROK border, there is not much 30,000 US troops plus ROK troops could do except retreat until larger assets were deployed.
Now, having said that, I don't think NK wants a war, I think they want money and I think they think that the ROK has gone soft and that the US forces will pull out.
Your thoughts?