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IOTL 1895 there was a war between Ethiopia and Italy. Italy was brutally defeated in the war, with Ethiopia having firm support from both France and Russia.

Can the Koreans pull off a similar feat, in which they face the Japanese in open combat and defeat them? The reason I believed this may make an interesting discussion was due to the following:
1. Korea, similar to Ethiopia, was "on the ropes" of neutrality between different imperialist powers, i.e. China, Russia and Japan IOTL. Now, if we can involve several more powers due to slight changes in diplomacy, i.e. Britain, Germany or the US, I believe there is more possibility of this being successfully pulled off.
2. The wikipedia page for the Ethiopian Empire says the following: "In 1868, following the imprisonment of several missionaries and representatives of the British government, Britain launched a punitive expedition into [the capital of] Ethiopia. The campaign was a success for Britain and the ruler of Ethiopia committed suicide." There was a similar expedition in Korea, all of which were done by France and America respectively in 1866 and 1871(all strategic failures); only in 1875 was Japan able to force open Korea. Although one may argue that the Koreans are too militarily weak to do anything similar to that of Ethiopia, I believe these examples prove that the Koreans have an overall military capability on tier with that of Ethiopia.

POD should be around the 1870s and 1880s. Korea does not need to claim strategic victory - just tactical victory, where they neutralise a full-flung enemy expeditionary force. Japan is preferable as the opposing force, but other imperial forces are also okay I guess(i.e. China, Russia, etc). Even if you believe this is unbelievably impossible please argue why you believe so.
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