Second Korean War

HueyLong

Banned
Is there a time or event during the Cold War in which this could have happened? And what would be the outcome?
 
I suppose it could if someone in the North got frisky again. Perhaps during the Vietnam war?

As I recall the North did launch some raids and probe defences a few times during the Vietnam War, but since the South's defenses always seemed fairly solid it never went beyond that. I suppose if the North gets lucky with one of their raids they might take it as a sign that the South is weak and ready to fall and try an all-out invasion.
 
there were several times in the late 80's/early 90s that friction between NK and the US was pretty high, mainly over NK making nuclear weapons and keeping anyone from inspecting them. Time magazine once ran an article comparing the military strength of the two sides, with the idea that war was a distinct possibility...
 
there were several times in the late 80's/early 90s that friction between NK and the US was pretty high, mainly over NK making nuclear weapons and keeping anyone from inspecting them. Time magazine once ran an article comparing the military strength of the two sides, with the idea that war was a distinct possibility...

From 1992-1994, the probability of war in Korea seemed high. If North Korea is going to attack the south, this is probably their last, best chance.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
From 1992-1994, the probability of war in Korea seemed high. If North Korea is going to attack the south, this is probably their last, best chance.

Going to war with the U.S. in the 1990's wasn't a sound plan.

The "best" chance for the North would have been 1977-80. Before then, the U.S. had most of it's combat strength in the Pacific, especially airpower. In the '77-80 period U.S. military was still pretty much in a post-Viet Nam fog, most of the gear was at the end of useful life, and the President wasn't exactly a warhawk. Once Reagan came into office, even with the gear being mostly the same, the POTUS was a very different critter and the window closed.
 
Last edited:
As I recall the North did launch some raids and probe defences a few times during the Vietnam War, but since the South's defenses always seemed fairly solid it never went beyond that. I suppose if the North gets lucky with one of their raids they might take it as a sign that the South is weak and ready to fall and try an all-out invasion.

I remember reading that when I googled "Second Korean War".
Not much of a war though.
 
The "best" chance for the North would have been 1977-80. Before then, the U.S. had most of it's combat strength in the Pacific, especially airpower. In the '77-80 period U.S. military was still pretty much in a post-Viet Nam fog, most of the gear was at the end of useful life, and the President wasn't exactly a warhawk.

Umm, Carter doctrine doesn't ring bell, for example, or Carter's arming policy? AFAIK, Reagan basically started just one working major weapons program, B-2, but decided to go on with a number of not very well working ones, such as B-1... Realistically, even US military strength in 1970's was lightyears ahead of what would have been needed not only to defend South Korea, but also to invade North Korea. And then we have not dealt with South Korean military strength yet, which by then was the backbone for the defense of South Korea.
 
Umm, Carter doctrine doesn't ring bell, for example, or Carter's arming policy? AFAIK, Reagan basically started just one working major weapons program, B-2, but decided to go on with a number of not very well working ones, such as B-1... Realistically, even US military strength in 1970's was lightyears ahead of what would have been needed not only to defend South Korea, but also to invade North Korea. And then we have not dealt with South Korean military strength yet, which by then was the backbone for the defense of South Korea.

Well, I think his point was that the Carter years were when the US was at a greater level of perceived weakness in the area, not neccessarily that if a second Korean War broke out in 1977-1980 the US&South would lose.
 
The Were several novels that deal with this topic . I suggest Red Phoenix by Larry Bond and they is another one by Ed Ruggerio. Both are excellant novels of what a war might be like.
 
Perhaps a most obvious flash point would be over the the USS Pueblo incident in 68'.. Recently some believe that the Soviets pushed the North Koreans into a action to provide a cryptograph machine on board the Pueblo for the key that John Walker provided.(may he burn in hell):mad:

This could errupt into something more serious..

Also the the South Koreans did have a nuclear weapons program back in the 70's.. Maybe the North Korean's invade for "security purposes" if they find this out soon enough?
 
Top