My first TL enjoy! Coming out of the 1994 Korean War thread.
Second Korean War Timeline
January 29, 2002- President George W. Bush during his State of the Union address announces North Korea as being part of an Axis of Evil with Iraq and Iran. He cites these nations as working to threaten the peace of the world and pose a grave danger.
October 3- Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly while visiting the North Korean capital of Pyongyang pushes the DPRK inquiring about rumors that its nuclear program is still active. Any North Korean program would be in violation of the 1994 Agreed Framework which promised security agreements, fuel for energy production, and light water nuclear pants for power generation. Kelly says he has evidence the North is enriching uranium.
October 16- The United States announces North Korea has admitted to running a secret nuclear arms program in talks. Kim Jong-Il says he will allow for international inspection of their nuclear facilities.
October 20- North and South talks are stalled in Pyongyang, the DPRK admission causing the difficulties. Colin Powell remarks that further US aid to North Korea is in doubt. Response from the DPRK is confusing, with the North defending its right to develop nuclear weapons, and then saying it will halt its program in exchange for a US Non-Aggression1 Pact.
November 14- President Bush declares that the November shipment of oil to the DPRK will be the last if the North refuses to halt weapons production.
December 4- North Korea rejects calls for it to open its nuclear facilities.
December 11- A ship bound for Yemen is discovered with North Korean SUCD missiles on board. US forces illegally detain the vessel but are forced to let it go. The DPRK announces it will restart its nuclear facilities for power generation to make up for the loss of oil shipments. Pyongyang also asks the IAEA to remove seals and inspection devices from the Yongbyon plant.
December 22- North Korea removes monitoring devices from the Yongbyon plant.
December 24-26 At the Yongbyon plant North Korean engineers begin repairs. North and South Korean talks over reopening rail and road links already in jeopardy cease due to the tensions. Over Christmas it’s revealed that fuel rods are being shipped to the Yongbyon plant. The IAEA confirms as many as 1,000 fuel rods have been shipped.
December 27- The DPRK announces it will expel the two IAEA inspectors from the country. It will also be reopening a processing plant to capable of producing weapons grade plutonium.
January 2, 2003- South Korea asks for international pressure, particularly from China to reduce tension over the nuclear issue. Two days later Russia joins the effort, bringing pressure on the DPRK to suspend its program.
January 6- The IAEA passes a resolution, demanding that North Korea readmit the inspectors within weeks. If the North refuses, the United Nations Security Council will seek its own resolution. United States says it will not offer a quid pro quos to the DPRK but is willing to begin talks.
January 10- North Korea states it will withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This is the second time the North has threatened to step away from the NPT, the first being in 1993.
January 24- Cabinet level talks between the ROK and DPRK fail. President-elect Roh Moo-hyun says that he is willing to meet face to face with Kim Jong-Il.
January 28- In his State of the Union address President Bush calls North Korea, “an oppressive regime [whose] people live in fear and starvation”. He also says that North Korea was deceptive over its nuclear program and “America will not be blackmailed”. The DPRK declares President Bush’s speech is an undisguised declaration of aggression, to topple the DPRK system. Although the North calls the president a charlatan, the DPRK reiterates its desire for bilateral talks and a non-aggression pact.
February 4- The United States considers new military deployments in the Pacific. North Korea confirms it has reactivated its nuclear facilities and warns that any US military build up in the region could lead to a pre-emptive strike on US forces.
February 12- The IAEA finds North Korea in violation of nuclear safeguards. They bring the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
February 16- Kim Jong-Il celebrates his birthday. The 61 year old dictator tells his people to be on high alert. Later that day Kim meets with the senior military commanders of the North Korean Peoples Army. In a lengthy speech the Dear Leader outlines the aggressive acts made by the United States, UN, and ROK against them. With the continuing US build up against Iraq, many NKPA officers see this as an excellent chance to invade the South. Kim is also encouraged by the mass protests against the United States in Europe, Australia, and around the world. He believes the world will not support the US even if the North attacks the south.
Orders are given to begin preparations for the invasion of South Korea.
February 24- North Korea begins large scale military exercises to cover its mobilization of the nearly 700,000 men positioned near the DMZ. Twenty-two Special Forces brigades are mobilized with some infiltrating South Korea and Japan in the upcoming weeks. They will meet up with DPRK sleeper cells and collaborators. On D-Day they will attack airfields, command and control centers, assassinate high ranking US and ROK officials, and delay South Korean mobilization.
As the Special Forces attack the rear, the forward deployed corps will cross the DMZ to destroy the forward deployed CFC forces. Once a breakthrough had been made the armor and mobile units of the second echelon will move to encircle Seoul. The NKPA knows it cannot take the entire country. Their fuel, food, and ammunition supplies do not support an extended campaign. The NKPA believes by threatening Seoul with artillery and isolation, the ROK government will surrender rather than see massive civilian deaths.
In addition to the secret mobilization the DPRK fires a test missile into the Sea of Japan. This is done to keep the ‘maneuvers’ consistent with previous war games. The next day Roh Moo-hyun is sworn in as the new South Korean president.
March 2- An RC-135 Recon plane in intercepted by MiG-29 Fulcrums and MiG-23 Floggers out of North Korea. The DPRK planes fly within 400 feet of the intelligence aircraft shadowing it for 22 minutes. One of the MiGs locked its radar onto the River Joint aircraft which returned to Kandea Air Force Base in Japan. Twelve B-1B and another dozen B-52 bombers begin arriving at Anderson AFB on Guam.
March 3- U.S. and ROK forces begin the RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration) and the Foal Eagle exercise. Part of Foal Eagle includes new arrivals to Korea, a mechanized battalion and an armor battalion from the 1st Infantry Division. In addition a squadron of F-15Es from Alaska and six F-117s arrive. Foal Eagle is schedule to run to the end of March.
March 10- The DPRK fires another missile into the East Sea, this time an anti-ship missile. North Korea’s second echelon forces, the 820th Armored, 815th, and 806th Mechanized Corps move into secure underground facilities near the DMZ. Air Force units make final preparations as well, moving strike aircraft forward. Making their final perpetrations set D-Day for when the US strikes Iraq, believed to be coming in the next two weeks. Kim Jong-Il voices concerns at the American ‘reinforcements’ that are part of Foal Eagle in a meeting with the NKPA leadership. They reassure the Dear Leader that these will be the only reinforcements that Korea will see, since most active US formations are committed to the coming war in Iraq.
March 17- President Bush goes on television in the evening and tells Saddam Hussein that he has 48 hours to leave Iraq with his sons, or face war. As US forces prepare to initiate Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pyongyang issues its own war warning orders.
March 20- A strike by F-117s plus cruise missiles attempts to assassinate Saddam Hussein before the war in Iraq begins. The attack fails with the Iraqi leader appearing on television a few hours later. In the hours to follow Washington admits Special Forces are already operating inside Iraq. Air strikes against Iraqi troop and artillery positions begin.
March 21- In the early morning hours North Korea begins its invasion of the ROK. Special Forces launch attacks across the peninsula. A truck bomb is driven into the American Embassy security gate in Seoul. The explosion blows open a hole through which commandos attack. Nearly all the embassy personnel perish before the NK troops are killed by remaining US Marines and ROK security forces. A raid on the US Eight Army headquarters is defeated in part due to increased security for Foal Eagle.
Another SOF unit attacks Kunsan AFB. Using truck bombs to devastate the base security teams, commandos then attempted to destroy aircraft themselves with satchel charges. Three F-117s part of the Foal Eagle exercises are destroyed on the ground with another one damaged. Several F-15Es are damaged or destroyed. Similar attacks are made against South Korean airfields and Osan AFB. Some North Korea SOF units have orders to delay their attacks until days later.
Attacks are also launched in Japan. An SOF team is intercepted by Japanese police before they can approach the American and South Korean Embassies. The police kill several North Korean soldiers before being reinforced by US and ROK guards. A bomb goes off in a nightclub in Tokyo visited by US military personnel.
No-Dong and SCUD missiles are fired at ROK airfields, Kadena AFB and Misawa AFB in Japan. The longer range No-Dongs fail to knock out the Japanese bases landing away from runways and aircraft storage shelters. However causalities in non-hardened areas are low thanks to early warning systems in the US and war alerts from the 7th Air Force in Korea. Other missiles fall on Seoul and other cities killing hundreds as people rush to air raid shelters.
All along the DMZ artillery pounds the main line of resistance (MLR). 8,000 artillery systems open fire on ROK defensive positions and long range 170mm KOSAN cannons at Seoul. The NKPA guns fire from hardened artillery sites built into the rugged terrain making them highly resistant to counter battery fire. Under the fire of the guns the North Korean, IV, II, V, and I assault corps advance. Many units attempt to infiltrate behind the ROK defensive positions using tunnels under the DMZ with different measures of success.
IV and some elements of II Corps objective is to attack down the Kaesong-Munsan approach. This is the shortest route of advance being a mere 40 kilometers from Seoul. DPRK units hope to reach the city of Paju in a week isolating Seoul from the northwest and west. The ROKA 25th and 1st Infantry Divisions are hit by NKPA infantry who have a 5-1 ratio against them. The forward defensive positions inflict serve causalities on the assaulting IV Corps. Many of the ROK bunkers are overrun after exhausting their ammunition. Others hold off NKPA attacks but are cut off. IV Corps breaks through the MLR along the main roads, allowing its truck mounted and mechanized forces to move south.
The North Korean II Corps units advance down the northern Kaesong-Munsan approach focusing their attacks against the ROKA 1st and 5th Infantry Divisions. Like most of the DMZ units they inflict heavy losses to the NKPA but are overrun, destroyed in place, or cut off. An armored brigade of II Corp’s moves east towards Major Supply Route 3. It is stopped by a mixed force of K-1 tanks and older M-48Ks. American forces also see their first combat near the DMZ.
V Corps attacks along the traditional route of invasion, the Chorwon valley. A successful SOF operation kills the CO and Operations Officer of the 28th Infantry Division. This coupled with heavy attacks by NKPA infantry and tanks leads to the destruction of two of its three regiments. The DPRK 45th Infantry Division and 103rd Armored Brigade move to exploit the gap in ROK lines. T-62s of the 103rd begin battling with the ROKA 5th Armored Brigade. The ROK’s K-1 tanks hold off superior numbers of enemy tanks thanks to a vast technological advantage over the modified Soviet era tanks. NKPA infantry however conduct infiltrated flanking attacks on the 5th Armored, forcing them to withdraw.
In the east, the I Corps has the mission of tying down ROK II and III Corps. The four frontline infantry divisions push back the ROKA forces. Operations go better than expected and armor brigades push south. There is little room to maneuver however and soon the line of advance is marked by knocked out tanks and AFVs as ROKA troops skillfully use tanks and ATGMs in ambushes to delay I Corp’s armor. Additional forces are bought up to establish a new defense line ten kilometers south of the original MLR.
US Forces in Korea at the time of invasion consisted of the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 2nd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and a cavalry squadron, 4th-7th ACR. The 1st ‘Iron Brigade’ included two armor battalions equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks, and a Mechanized Infantry battalion in M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Artillery came from the guns of 1st Battalion 15th Field Artillery. 2nd Brigade was made up of two air assault battalions and a Mech battalion. 2nd Battalion of the 17th Field Artillery rounded out the fighting component of the brigade.
Also in Korea at the time were two battalions from the 1st Infantry Division. Deployed as part of the Foal Eagle exercise, a mechanized and an Armor battalion added to the American heavy units. The 2nd ID also has an aviation brigade with AH-64D Longbows and UH-60 Black Hawks. Like ROK units in the country US forces came under Special Forces attacks on D-Day. The 2nd Infantry and 1st Infantry units deal with the commando attacks quickly. Thanks to Foal Eagle, US units are either in the field or preparing for their exercises. NK commandos score some successes, including the destruction of a group of AH-64s on the ground. As the day continues, US forces will move into defensive positions to backstop and support the ROK forces.
In the air, North Korean jets blitz across the DMZ shortly after the rocket and SOF attacks. MiG-23s, 21s, 19s, Su-25 Frogfoots and Su-17 Fitters fill the skies hoping to hit their targets and escape back across the DMZ before the allied air forces come to bear. Surprise however escapes the North Koreans, with the SOF attacks occurring before the SCUD and No-Dong launches, US and ROK aircraft are able to take to the skies. F-16s, F-4s, and F-5s engage with missiles at long range, thanks to AWACS support. North Korea suffers heavy losses, but do complete several strikes.
Second Korean War Timeline
January 29, 2002- President George W. Bush during his State of the Union address announces North Korea as being part of an Axis of Evil with Iraq and Iran. He cites these nations as working to threaten the peace of the world and pose a grave danger.
October 3- Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly while visiting the North Korean capital of Pyongyang pushes the DPRK inquiring about rumors that its nuclear program is still active. Any North Korean program would be in violation of the 1994 Agreed Framework which promised security agreements, fuel for energy production, and light water nuclear pants for power generation. Kelly says he has evidence the North is enriching uranium.
October 16- The United States announces North Korea has admitted to running a secret nuclear arms program in talks. Kim Jong-Il says he will allow for international inspection of their nuclear facilities.
October 20- North and South talks are stalled in Pyongyang, the DPRK admission causing the difficulties. Colin Powell remarks that further US aid to North Korea is in doubt. Response from the DPRK is confusing, with the North defending its right to develop nuclear weapons, and then saying it will halt its program in exchange for a US Non-Aggression1 Pact.
November 14- President Bush declares that the November shipment of oil to the DPRK will be the last if the North refuses to halt weapons production.
December 4- North Korea rejects calls for it to open its nuclear facilities.
December 11- A ship bound for Yemen is discovered with North Korean SUCD missiles on board. US forces illegally detain the vessel but are forced to let it go. The DPRK announces it will restart its nuclear facilities for power generation to make up for the loss of oil shipments. Pyongyang also asks the IAEA to remove seals and inspection devices from the Yongbyon plant.
December 22- North Korea removes monitoring devices from the Yongbyon plant.
December 24-26 At the Yongbyon plant North Korean engineers begin repairs. North and South Korean talks over reopening rail and road links already in jeopardy cease due to the tensions. Over Christmas it’s revealed that fuel rods are being shipped to the Yongbyon plant. The IAEA confirms as many as 1,000 fuel rods have been shipped.
December 27- The DPRK announces it will expel the two IAEA inspectors from the country. It will also be reopening a processing plant to capable of producing weapons grade plutonium.
January 2, 2003- South Korea asks for international pressure, particularly from China to reduce tension over the nuclear issue. Two days later Russia joins the effort, bringing pressure on the DPRK to suspend its program.
January 6- The IAEA passes a resolution, demanding that North Korea readmit the inspectors within weeks. If the North refuses, the United Nations Security Council will seek its own resolution. United States says it will not offer a quid pro quos to the DPRK but is willing to begin talks.
January 10- North Korea states it will withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This is the second time the North has threatened to step away from the NPT, the first being in 1993.
January 24- Cabinet level talks between the ROK and DPRK fail. President-elect Roh Moo-hyun says that he is willing to meet face to face with Kim Jong-Il.
January 28- In his State of the Union address President Bush calls North Korea, “an oppressive regime [whose] people live in fear and starvation”. He also says that North Korea was deceptive over its nuclear program and “America will not be blackmailed”. The DPRK declares President Bush’s speech is an undisguised declaration of aggression, to topple the DPRK system. Although the North calls the president a charlatan, the DPRK reiterates its desire for bilateral talks and a non-aggression pact.
February 4- The United States considers new military deployments in the Pacific. North Korea confirms it has reactivated its nuclear facilities and warns that any US military build up in the region could lead to a pre-emptive strike on US forces.
February 12- The IAEA finds North Korea in violation of nuclear safeguards. They bring the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
February 16- Kim Jong-Il celebrates his birthday. The 61 year old dictator tells his people to be on high alert. Later that day Kim meets with the senior military commanders of the North Korean Peoples Army. In a lengthy speech the Dear Leader outlines the aggressive acts made by the United States, UN, and ROK against them. With the continuing US build up against Iraq, many NKPA officers see this as an excellent chance to invade the South. Kim is also encouraged by the mass protests against the United States in Europe, Australia, and around the world. He believes the world will not support the US even if the North attacks the south.
Orders are given to begin preparations for the invasion of South Korea.
February 24- North Korea begins large scale military exercises to cover its mobilization of the nearly 700,000 men positioned near the DMZ. Twenty-two Special Forces brigades are mobilized with some infiltrating South Korea and Japan in the upcoming weeks. They will meet up with DPRK sleeper cells and collaborators. On D-Day they will attack airfields, command and control centers, assassinate high ranking US and ROK officials, and delay South Korean mobilization.
As the Special Forces attack the rear, the forward deployed corps will cross the DMZ to destroy the forward deployed CFC forces. Once a breakthrough had been made the armor and mobile units of the second echelon will move to encircle Seoul. The NKPA knows it cannot take the entire country. Their fuel, food, and ammunition supplies do not support an extended campaign. The NKPA believes by threatening Seoul with artillery and isolation, the ROK government will surrender rather than see massive civilian deaths.
In addition to the secret mobilization the DPRK fires a test missile into the Sea of Japan. This is done to keep the ‘maneuvers’ consistent with previous war games. The next day Roh Moo-hyun is sworn in as the new South Korean president.
March 2- An RC-135 Recon plane in intercepted by MiG-29 Fulcrums and MiG-23 Floggers out of North Korea. The DPRK planes fly within 400 feet of the intelligence aircraft shadowing it for 22 minutes. One of the MiGs locked its radar onto the River Joint aircraft which returned to Kandea Air Force Base in Japan. Twelve B-1B and another dozen B-52 bombers begin arriving at Anderson AFB on Guam.
March 3- U.S. and ROK forces begin the RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration) and the Foal Eagle exercise. Part of Foal Eagle includes new arrivals to Korea, a mechanized battalion and an armor battalion from the 1st Infantry Division. In addition a squadron of F-15Es from Alaska and six F-117s arrive. Foal Eagle is schedule to run to the end of March.
March 10- The DPRK fires another missile into the East Sea, this time an anti-ship missile. North Korea’s second echelon forces, the 820th Armored, 815th, and 806th Mechanized Corps move into secure underground facilities near the DMZ. Air Force units make final preparations as well, moving strike aircraft forward. Making their final perpetrations set D-Day for when the US strikes Iraq, believed to be coming in the next two weeks. Kim Jong-Il voices concerns at the American ‘reinforcements’ that are part of Foal Eagle in a meeting with the NKPA leadership. They reassure the Dear Leader that these will be the only reinforcements that Korea will see, since most active US formations are committed to the coming war in Iraq.
March 17- President Bush goes on television in the evening and tells Saddam Hussein that he has 48 hours to leave Iraq with his sons, or face war. As US forces prepare to initiate Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pyongyang issues its own war warning orders.
March 20- A strike by F-117s plus cruise missiles attempts to assassinate Saddam Hussein before the war in Iraq begins. The attack fails with the Iraqi leader appearing on television a few hours later. In the hours to follow Washington admits Special Forces are already operating inside Iraq. Air strikes against Iraqi troop and artillery positions begin.
March 21- In the early morning hours North Korea begins its invasion of the ROK. Special Forces launch attacks across the peninsula. A truck bomb is driven into the American Embassy security gate in Seoul. The explosion blows open a hole through which commandos attack. Nearly all the embassy personnel perish before the NK troops are killed by remaining US Marines and ROK security forces. A raid on the US Eight Army headquarters is defeated in part due to increased security for Foal Eagle.
Another SOF unit attacks Kunsan AFB. Using truck bombs to devastate the base security teams, commandos then attempted to destroy aircraft themselves with satchel charges. Three F-117s part of the Foal Eagle exercises are destroyed on the ground with another one damaged. Several F-15Es are damaged or destroyed. Similar attacks are made against South Korean airfields and Osan AFB. Some North Korea SOF units have orders to delay their attacks until days later.
Attacks are also launched in Japan. An SOF team is intercepted by Japanese police before they can approach the American and South Korean Embassies. The police kill several North Korean soldiers before being reinforced by US and ROK guards. A bomb goes off in a nightclub in Tokyo visited by US military personnel.
No-Dong and SCUD missiles are fired at ROK airfields, Kadena AFB and Misawa AFB in Japan. The longer range No-Dongs fail to knock out the Japanese bases landing away from runways and aircraft storage shelters. However causalities in non-hardened areas are low thanks to early warning systems in the US and war alerts from the 7th Air Force in Korea. Other missiles fall on Seoul and other cities killing hundreds as people rush to air raid shelters.
All along the DMZ artillery pounds the main line of resistance (MLR). 8,000 artillery systems open fire on ROK defensive positions and long range 170mm KOSAN cannons at Seoul. The NKPA guns fire from hardened artillery sites built into the rugged terrain making them highly resistant to counter battery fire. Under the fire of the guns the North Korean, IV, II, V, and I assault corps advance. Many units attempt to infiltrate behind the ROK defensive positions using tunnels under the DMZ with different measures of success.
IV and some elements of II Corps objective is to attack down the Kaesong-Munsan approach. This is the shortest route of advance being a mere 40 kilometers from Seoul. DPRK units hope to reach the city of Paju in a week isolating Seoul from the northwest and west. The ROKA 25th and 1st Infantry Divisions are hit by NKPA infantry who have a 5-1 ratio against them. The forward defensive positions inflict serve causalities on the assaulting IV Corps. Many of the ROK bunkers are overrun after exhausting their ammunition. Others hold off NKPA attacks but are cut off. IV Corps breaks through the MLR along the main roads, allowing its truck mounted and mechanized forces to move south.
The North Korean II Corps units advance down the northern Kaesong-Munsan approach focusing their attacks against the ROKA 1st and 5th Infantry Divisions. Like most of the DMZ units they inflict heavy losses to the NKPA but are overrun, destroyed in place, or cut off. An armored brigade of II Corp’s moves east towards Major Supply Route 3. It is stopped by a mixed force of K-1 tanks and older M-48Ks. American forces also see their first combat near the DMZ.
V Corps attacks along the traditional route of invasion, the Chorwon valley. A successful SOF operation kills the CO and Operations Officer of the 28th Infantry Division. This coupled with heavy attacks by NKPA infantry and tanks leads to the destruction of two of its three regiments. The DPRK 45th Infantry Division and 103rd Armored Brigade move to exploit the gap in ROK lines. T-62s of the 103rd begin battling with the ROKA 5th Armored Brigade. The ROK’s K-1 tanks hold off superior numbers of enemy tanks thanks to a vast technological advantage over the modified Soviet era tanks. NKPA infantry however conduct infiltrated flanking attacks on the 5th Armored, forcing them to withdraw.
In the east, the I Corps has the mission of tying down ROK II and III Corps. The four frontline infantry divisions push back the ROKA forces. Operations go better than expected and armor brigades push south. There is little room to maneuver however and soon the line of advance is marked by knocked out tanks and AFVs as ROKA troops skillfully use tanks and ATGMs in ambushes to delay I Corp’s armor. Additional forces are bought up to establish a new defense line ten kilometers south of the original MLR.
US Forces in Korea at the time of invasion consisted of the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 2nd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and a cavalry squadron, 4th-7th ACR. The 1st ‘Iron Brigade’ included two armor battalions equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks, and a Mechanized Infantry battalion in M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Artillery came from the guns of 1st Battalion 15th Field Artillery. 2nd Brigade was made up of two air assault battalions and a Mech battalion. 2nd Battalion of the 17th Field Artillery rounded out the fighting component of the brigade.
Also in Korea at the time were two battalions from the 1st Infantry Division. Deployed as part of the Foal Eagle exercise, a mechanized and an Armor battalion added to the American heavy units. The 2nd ID also has an aviation brigade with AH-64D Longbows and UH-60 Black Hawks. Like ROK units in the country US forces came under Special Forces attacks on D-Day. The 2nd Infantry and 1st Infantry units deal with the commando attacks quickly. Thanks to Foal Eagle, US units are either in the field or preparing for their exercises. NK commandos score some successes, including the destruction of a group of AH-64s on the ground. As the day continues, US forces will move into defensive positions to backstop and support the ROK forces.
In the air, North Korean jets blitz across the DMZ shortly after the rocket and SOF attacks. MiG-23s, 21s, 19s, Su-25 Frogfoots and Su-17 Fitters fill the skies hoping to hit their targets and escape back across the DMZ before the allied air forces come to bear. Surprise however escapes the North Koreans, with the SOF attacks occurring before the SCUD and No-Dong launches, US and ROK aircraft are able to take to the skies. F-16s, F-4s, and F-5s engage with missiles at long range, thanks to AWACS support. North Korea suffers heavy losses, but do complete several strikes.
Thanks!