What if there is a war in Korea

South Korea just updated their war plan regarding a North Korean invasion, something worth discussing considering North Korea's recent announcement that it has nukes. According to the report, the US would deploy up to 690,000 troops to come to the aid of the South Korean's. The US currently has an infantry division and some Marines there (along with a Air Force wing) and there is a Marine division, if I recall correctly, along with other forces in Okinawa. However, if the North Koreans invaded while we were still fighting Iraq, we would have a very difficult time getting enough troops over there quickly enough to save South Korea. The US strategy in South Korea recently changed to a plan of moving most US troops away from the DMZ and other near border areas to areas farther south. That is a good plan considering that with the North Korean's enourmous advantage in artillery, I am not sure any troops there would survive the initial barrage of artillery. The North also has a massive air defense network as well, which would make for a big battle with US and South Korean air force units. However, if the North was stupid enough to attack (and with their lunatic of a leader anything is possible), world opinion would be almost univerally against the North Koreans. One thing is for sure: Even if no nukes are involved (which is by no means certain since North Korea apparently now has them), the loss of life involved would be truly massive.

You can read the story here:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=5&u=/ap/20050204/ap_on_re_as/koreas_defense_guidelines