| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 5:55 a.m. PST |
from: freebeacon.com/winter-games "The exercises are said by the newspaper to simulate real-war" training, a key theme of Chinese military training over the past several years." There is something of a power struggle going on in North Korea. Kim Jong Un's faction is led by his Aunt who is a super die-hard Kim-version of Iosef Stalin. Un's Uncle, who was arrested on live North Korean tv, was pushing for closer ties with China and was opposed to his aunt's faction. Could get even crazier and grimmer for the Norks… |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 6:04 a.m. PST |
If the Chinese decide the Kims are just too  crazy and want more leverage to seize offshore oil assets and fishing rights, I could see them invading. The world might even perceive it as a positive, while giving them cover to position military assets to add pressure to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam ( all of whom they are in territorial disputes with. ) |
| Streitax | 10 Dec 2013 6:08 a.m. PST |
Well, it would be a very intense war until the Norks run out of ammunition. However, can the Chinese tolerate the losses these days. The 'down side' of going capitalist is that folks might think twice or even three times about a government that spends lives like money. |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 6:12 a.m. PST |
How much of the North Korean army faces North? I can't imagine much. I suspect it would be a very short war with a Pro Chinese coup eliminating the Aunt and arresting Un. |
| Streitax | 10 Dec 2013 6:20 a.m. PST |
As paranoid as the Norks are, I have no doubt those passes down to the Yalu are well defended. On the other hand, if they carpet bomb with pallets of rice, the troops and folks might get a bit distracted. |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 6:25 a.m. PST |
You may be right. Would the Norks resort to nukes knowing the Chinese would have no problems replying in kind? |
| Striker | 10 Dec 2013 6:26 a.m. PST |
Does NK produce any weapons or do they buy most of their stuff from others? If so those suppliers could just turn off the flow. This could be an interesting FFT scenario, I just don't have any NK or Chinese micro…..yet. |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 6:36 a.m. PST |
They do produce some of their own now (including their own derivative of the T-55) previously they bought from the USSR and then China. |
| Chalfant | 10 Dec 2013 7:08 a.m. PST |
"On the other hand, if they carpet bomb with pallets of rice, the troops and folks might get a bit distracted." Brilliant. Fight your way though NK air defense to carpet drop bags of rice marked "From your pals in the PRC" all over the place. Sounds crazy, but at the same time… Chalfant |
| RazorMind | 10 Dec 2013 7:52 a.m. PST |
They wont eat it, they are brainwashed into believing it is poisoned. Then again, crazy starving might make you do it anyways! |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 8:04 a.m. PST |
The troops get food while the populace gets what is left. I suspect you are right RazorMind. |
troopwo  | 10 Dec 2013 9:00 a.m. PST |
Ammo is not a problem, food is. |
 Legion 4  | 10 Dec 2013 11:03 a.m. PST |
I could see the PRC invasion of North Korea being a good thing … unless they stayed … |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 12:10 p.m. PST |
Which they would. The only way they would go in is if a) they viewed the Norks as a threat. b) they decided that the strategic advantage of owning that territory was worth the hassle of taking it and having to drag the populace from the 19th to the 21st century. |
| darthfozzywig | 10 Dec 2013 12:55 p.m. PST |
Could get even crazier and grimmer for the Norks… You wouldn't think such a thing possible, but they seem to have cornered the market on ridiculous. |
| Mako11 | 10 Dec 2013 1:40 p.m. PST |
Yep, apparently a bit of a power struggle going on, and at least two of the uncle's aids were publicly executed. I presume that was a message to let him know things could get worse, if he resists his force retirement, and as a message to others. |
| dragon6 | 10 Dec 2013 3:21 p.m. PST |
I thought the uncle was dead? |
| Only Warlock | 10 Dec 2013 3:35 p.m. PST |
Nope this Uncle was the main man for the PRC in North Korea. It is being seen in China as a direct challenge to their influence. Here is an interesting breakdown of Nork military hardware and manpower: link |
| Mako11 | 10 Dec 2013 7:14 p.m. PST |
I suspect a lot of people in the upper echelons of NK power are not sleeping very well at night, now. |
| Legion 4 | 11 Dec 2013 8:41 a.m. PST |
I hope they aren't sleeping at all … unless it is "with the fishes" … |
| Fonthill Hoser | 11 Dec 2013 1:25 p.m. PST |
The big question you've all missed is how South Korea would react to a Chinese invasion of the north. |
| Only Warlock | 11 Dec 2013 6:08 p.m. PST |
Good point. Certainly they would mobilize defensively and try to get the US to reinforce. I do not think they would go on offense. |
| Legion 4 | 12 Dec 2013 9:43 a.m. PST |
I agree … I'm not sure what the US would do, besides send more air, ground and naval forces to bolster the ROK's defenses … I don't think either side would want an all out war. Unless the PRC decided to advance South crossing the DMZ once they overran the Norks … |
finds bridges to match the river sets.