2007-03-16 10:32:26 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The standing joke in the Army has become that we are there to keep the South Koreans from going north. S.Korea (ROK) has modern arms (i.e. the K2 tank is licensed built by General Dynamics Land System Division, makers of the M1).
All of our troops have either moved south of Seoul or are slated to soon. The South Korean Army now numbers around 700,000 to North Koreas 1,000,000 but the ROK has a fully modernized force and and Air Force to boot. N. Korea still has MiG-17s and Type59s.
This complete imbalance of forces is what pushed N. Korea to make their nukes public.
2007-03-16 11:01:59 · answer #1 · answered by Pooky Bear the Sensitive 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If we actually gave highly advanced arms to the South Koreans, the North Koreans might be tempted to invade, just to see if they could capture some of this advanced weaponry.
It is much better for the technology to stay safe in the hands of American technicians. There are 30,000 American troops helping the South Koreans, and that is more than enough to dissuade the North from invading.
Besides, North Korea is well aware that we could bomb them into oblivion if they started an invasion of the South. It's not just the weapons we have immediately on hand in South Korea, but the ones that could be brought to the battlefront on a moment's notice. Even our submarines can do extensive damage to the North, and they know this.
2007-03-16 10:44:39 · answer #2 · answered by pachl@sbcglobal.net 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The US Armed Forces has armed and trained the South Korean Forces sufficiently to defeat North Korea. BTW, South Korean Forces were serving in Vietnam with American Forces!!!
2007-03-16 11:47:51 · answer #3 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Aside from not liking U.S. military presence, South Korea has had a good relationship as far as accepting equipment and training from the U.S. The problem is that Soul is very close to the North Korean border. An attack from the north cannot be repelled using bombs or air power with full effect. It must be done with boots on the ground and small arms. An almost impossible task when the enemy can freely use heavier weapons. The north won't care if they destroy buildings and kill lots of civilians, that puts the South at a huge tactical disadvantage.
2007-03-16 10:43:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The problem is that most of South Korea is within reach of North Korean rockets.
2007-03-16 10:37:09 · answer #5 · answered by October 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why ought to they? Kim Jong unwell is a dictator. A dictators purpose is to stay in ability. How does attacking yet another help united states shop you in ability? pretty in view that the North Korea has to position self belief in outdoors help for food and gasoline. China and Russia ought to end assisting them in the journey that they did it. in truth, China ought to likely invade them first to shop them from dropping the conflict and being united with South Korea. It advantages China to have North Korea as a buffer. Kim Jong unwell is nicely attentive to this. Kim Jong unwell is sorting out the international and does this every time there's a replacing of ability in the U. S..
2016-11-26 00:33:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Opinion...The United States keeps troops in South Korea as a staging area for South East Asia area more than as a protection for South Korea... Just like we have troops in Germany. There is no longer a Soviet Union and East Germany (the so called enemy) is now a part of Germany.
South Korea's Army (the ROK Army) is MORE than capable of handling its own country's defenses, as is Germany.
The U.S. maintains overseas bases for troops in case the need for a staging area in that area of the world emerges.
2007-03-16 10:54:00 · answer #7 · answered by Jerry 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Both Koreas claimed to be the legal government of all of Korea. The US did not want the South attacking the North so they issued them nothing larger than machine guns.
I assume you are talking about before 1950
Apparently most of the people who answered didn't understand that.
2007-03-16 10:49:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
South Korea doesn't want it. Following the Korean War, South Korea wanted to stand up on its own and hates that the US is still occupying part of South Korea. Everyday there are riots and picketers outside the base trying to get the US to leave.
2007-03-16 10:35:44 · answer #9 · answered by Hawaiisweetie 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Good question. After 50 years we still man the DMZ, our troops are hostage to the freedoms of South Korea. I suppose that will end if we ever get around to signing a peace treaty and finally end that conflict
2007-03-16 10:36:49 · answer #10 · answered by espreses@sbcglobal.net 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋