North Korea's Invasion Plan - Would It Succeed?

Would a North Korean invasion of the South work? I present details of Kim Jong-un's plan here, and you can decide whether you think it might succeed!
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Primary Source:
'North Korean Conventional Artillery' by D. Sean Barnett et al, (RAND Corporation: 2020) - www.rand.org/pubs/research_re...
Credits: The National Archives; Library of Congress; SKY FLYING

[@Combatwombat-sn7ng]

The feeding the population part of the plan is ironic considering they can't feed their own population

[@mikebunting7262]

I don't know if they can't feed their own people or if starvation is state policy. It certainly was in the Stalin era. What is the Korean word for Holodomor?"

[@robertdevito5001]

They intend to bring lawn mowers with them to cultivate food with which they will feed the south Korean people.

[@MaxVerhaag]

@@nigel6584 NK has recieved massive food support during the 90's when the kim the wacko's policies started starving his population....again...very much like other dictatorial regimes do....

[@RandomDudeOne]

Weird how all the trumpers love the commies now. @@nigel6584

[@hanssteiner4315]

​@@nigel6584 ah ofcourse there always is someone who "sees through" propaganda. Without sources or probable evidence. The ever evident paradox of everything is propaganda but this person sees through every thing. Probably by studying tiktok, facebook or X. So tired of these kind of weak-minded reasoning.

[@Kaimas7]

Their whole plan sounds just like me winning imaginary debates in my head while I am showering.

[@_TheRealGod]

😂😂😂

[@NovHak]

And who knows, maybe that’s how the plan was devised after all !

[@mateo1726]

Can’t lose in the shower am I right!?

[@BobbyBoucher228]

@@NovHakIt was probably devised by some generals who were too scared to tell Lil Kim that his plan for invasion might not work and made the plan seem in a way completely perfect for which in reality no military plan is perfect or ever goes exactly as planned.

[@nkazimulondlovu2870]

😂😂😂

[@gajebilliot2560]

That line of artillery just begs for a squad of a10 warthogs

[@Rubberduck-zt8lm]

Lol... To slow to go in without sam sites are taken out..... A 10 aircraft demands 100 % air dominans.... Dont think its a Wonder plane mate....

[@bkbaughn]

I "deployed" to Pusan AFB in South Korea for 4 months when I was in the Air Force in 08. The amount of AirCraft that would be deployed to South Korea in short order is astounding. The Air Force is constantly training for this.

[@Mauroita04]

Thats fire man, goosebumps from the imagination of that sight

[@ThatGuy68580]

yeah but it's been 16 years

[@PantsofVance]

@@ThatGuy68580 DPRK offensive plan has remained the same since the 70's. Overwhelming ground attacks would initially prove successful on numbers alone but once air support arrived the tide would turn. I was stationed at Osan and if their invasion was going well we were expected to be overrun within 4-5 days while being bombarded with chem/bio weapons, artillery, and sabotage from DPRK sleeper agents. Fun times!

[@moif_velocita]

I love how this 1950 era plan relies on no one returning fire with over whelming fire power

[@biddyboy1570]

There will be no response oh honerable comrade leader. The capitalists are all weak with wokism.

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

Nobody expects the North Korean inquisition.

[@slake9727]

​@@Rose.Of.Hizaki Their comfy chair batallion would wreak havoc.

[@aimeeinkling]

And they do seem to be stuck in the 1950s. So, it makes sense that their plan is the best the 1950s had to offer.

[@greatusername1668]

I think north korea has overwhelming fire power, but has zero morale and older technology plus no tactics, thats how they lose. but power, well they have that

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

There's a few things to consider. First off this isn't 1950. Surprise would be a lot more difficult to manage in this day and age of satellite surveillance, all that military hardware moving to the DMZ area would be pretty difficult to hide. And only the Defense Department knows how good our satellite surveillance technology is, all WE know is what they tell us. It could be incredibly better than we think it is. Second, the South Korean military is MUCH better trained and prepared to meet an invasion than they were 74 years ago. They're, going to fight like tigers, North Korea's going to have to give some serious thought as to whether an invasion's worth the trouble to begin with. And just how well-trained North Korea's military is could be questionable, they put on a good show for the cameras but when the day of battle comes how will they perform? Look at how the Russian Army who so many were terrified of for decades performed when they invaded Ukraine. Now all that being said let me pass on what General Patton said a long time ago because it's still as valid today as it was in WW2: "Don't concern yourself too much with the enemy's intentions, only HE knows what his intentions are and he's not going to tell you! Look at what his capabilities are, then plan accordingly." Sound advice. It could have saved a lot of the fleet at Pearl Harbor and and lot of grief in the Ardennes in 1944.

[@dreamcoyote]

Since it's been decades, they undoubtably have a lot of tunnels to conceal the true numbers of some equipment/personnel. I would actually worry that they would simply run the prep scenario a dozen, two dozen, or more times. Once it's become "the NK's are agitating again" they could actually strike. Yeah, that would take a lot of resources, but their true believers seem willing to sacrifice for it and no one is going to argue with the dear leader. In the end, I think Kim Jong Un is getting what he wants: complete control of his people. He would risk losing that by attacking and I think would only do so out of domestic need to focus the populace on "the enemy".

[@eminence_]

no way xi would risk it all for north korea

[@stevea2909]

Desertion rate will be high

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@eminence_ I concur. In fact I'm not so sure he'd assume any real risk in a Taiwan invasion. China's making big money selling products to the rest of the world and a war would be bad for business. But I could be wrong. As Patton said, plan accordingly.

[@raskolnikov1461]

you are naive!

[@JoeMun]

I was stationed in Okinawa in the Marines 7 years ago and worked in the operations department of my unit. Safe to say, we along with the entirety of other units in the pacific had plans for such a first strike. Everything after the opening artillery barrage would be fantastical if it worked out for them. I.e. no way

[@user-sb1jr2jn5o]

Precisely good sir. While I haven't ever had the privilege of serving in our military due to mistakes I made as a younger man.. I am a staunch patriot and believer that ours is the strongest country on earth. I have faith in the fact that we're beyond ready for any moves that freaky little despot may make. My grandfather fought in Korea and we're never going to let our friend S.Korea stand alone in a fight for its survival.

[@Albertan1984]

I had both my grandfather's fight in Korea one in the Canadian military and one in the US Navy and I day N Korea has no chance as well

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Semper Fi Marine! And thanks!

[@ProjectKnowledge4U]

I was stationed in Okinawa from 1989 - 1993. I participated in Annual "Team Spirit" exercises in 1990 and 1991. The 1990 exercise was the last full scale exercise on the joint South Korean Forces and US Military's (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) defensive response assuming North Korea attacking South Korea in almost an identical scenario. This joint training exercise used to be the world's largest training exercise with over 200,000 military personnel from the ROK and US. The 1991 exercise was dramatically scaled back because of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. A large part of the exercise was tactical operations against invading North Korean Special Forces Units. The thing I remember the most that the South Korean Senior Officers kept repeating was that an attack by North Korea would at first seem overwhelming, but their ability to continue will decrease quickly due to poor logistics and the fact that they (even at that time) didn't have enough food to feed their military.

[@glanza2281]

You have watched too much Hollywood movies... If NK attacks it will be with the support of Russia and china ... There's no way us NATO win this .. they could not defeat the Taliban's..

[@thomasfx3190]

I was US Army artillery in the 90’s so my view is limited, but way back when we employed the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar which is a passive, phased array artillery & rocket & mortar radar with a data link. It looks, let’s say north in this case and sweeps 90 degrees and looks for inbound projectiles. It will find them, perhaps hundreds in its sector and broadcast the 1x1 meter grid location of the artillery piece that (dared to) launch a shell at our team via encrypted burst transmission. It’s all automatic and soldier proof. automatic. Within a few seconds the overall threat picture is updated, targets assigned and a large amount ordinance will fly down range. That (terminator) Fire Finder radar is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear.

[@ryanbarker5217]

seems i saw one of these kinds of videos last week talking about how the u.s. thinks in terms of grids... and eradicating them.

[@thomasfx3190]

@@ryanbarker5217 The US Army has a rocket artillery launcher on a track vehicle called MLRS. It can eliminate every enemy fighter or soft skinned vehicle over an entire grid square with a single volley, we called it the grid square eliminator.

[@ryanbarker5217]

@@thomasfx3190 that sounds familiar. :)

[@onikwa]

NK just baited the radar by detonating gunpowder charges and observing the South Korean response. You act like your wunderwaffen is somehow beyond understanding but it ain't.

[@thomasfx3190]

@@onikwa NK can certainly probe defenses and have been doing it for years. We actually got into a shooting war with them in 1968 that was thought to be nothing more than a strategic feint afterwards. They are very clever, I’ll give you that. But like a lot of things we don’t have to react when they shoot small projectiles over the DMZ. Firefinder radar can see objects (hundreds of them) that are smaller than a baseball, and all that data gets passed upstream. Army camps and Air Force bases are protected by CWIS or close in weapons system. When my brother in Iraq his Fob got mortared every day, and nobody was hurt because this system took them all out. There are school of analysis about NK that they talk a big game but are actually just a paper tiger. They might have atomic weapons, but not hydrogen bombs, but no indigenous helicopters, airplanes or subs. Usually you have to have one of those programs to have the sophistication to build credible, miniaturized, boosted atomic weapons. Their stated national purpose has been reunification of the Korean Peninsula by force, but they’re sure taking their sweet time doing it.

[@legiran9564]

“No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main strength.” Helmuth von Moltke

[@MasterMalrubius]

"Everybody has a plan until they get hit in the mouth." Mike Tyson

[@doberski6855]

Yeah that idea that by day 3 North Korea would begin restoring utilities, law and order, etc. in the combat zone caused me to laugh. The North Koreans seem to have a hard enough time doing that in North Korea from what I hear, never mind in the middle of a war.

[@dutchreagan3676]

@@MasterMalrubius He actually said: 'punched in the nose'. But that's the same difference.

[@legiran9564]

@@doberski6855 The worst thing that can happen to any propagandist is when they start to believe their own lies. To them the massive starvation that happened under Kim's dad is just Western propaganda.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Just as true now as it was in von Moltke's time.

[@jackmckinnon3208]

Fascinating but you have to wonder just what the conscript soldiers of north Korea are going to do when they invade south Korea and see what the real world is like. Reality can be blocked in the north and obviously is, but every north Korean going south is going to learn different very quickly. The power of punishment is going to wear very thin very fast. Just an observation

[@thestrangechannelofjeff7426]

Yah their minds would be blown . This would be a great plot for a movie . The movie takes place in Sci fi future and follows young space recruits . Then half way through the movie they finally invade and realized their the bad guys and have been living completely backwards

[@alfnoakes392]

Brings to mind the N.Korean soldier who defected a few years back by ramming a 'jeep' through the border (and I think getting shot and wounded en route). He was an 'ordinary Joe' North Korean, and was physically a mess, underfed and riddled with gut parasites (as a result of the Northern practice of using human faeces as fertiliser).

[@Novalarke]

Another aspect of this is that North Korea in 1950 was much more advanced than South Korea. Now it is (obviously) the opposite.

[@tetraxis3011]

Yes, but dont underestimate the Human ability to be in denial and the extreme brainwashing in North Korea.

[@TheSonOfDumb]

@@alfnoakes392 He had parasites? Christ.

[@epapa737]

The most unrealistic part of the plan is "day 3 feed the south Koreans" like OKAY BUDDY you can't even feed your own country

[@Ralphl100]

I can’t imagine the US/SK not prepared for this scenario at ANY MOMENT…

[@thomasdragosr.841]

I remember a few years ago when 4 NORK border guards defected to the South. A couple of them were wounded by their comrades and when they were treated the doctors found them to be physically weak and loaded with parasites. It was also known that NORK pilots get very little training time flying missions. While they may strike the first blow, I don't think a military whose soldiers are hungry and ill trained will last long.

[@preemavivek2008]

What if russia provides military equipment?

[@HonorableBeniah-A]

Notice how the big bully west becomes reserved when their adversary is ☢️?

[@UnknownOps]

​@@preemavivek2008if you don't know how to use them, I doubt you will last that long in a fight.

[@HonorableBeniah-A]

@@preemavivek2008all Russia has to do is call their combined military forces a “coalition” and it makes everything ok. Just ask the west.

[@traphimawari7760]

​@@preemavivek2008 what difference does it makes? Is the military equipment gonna feed them and or cure them of their various ailments that makes them so weak? This isn't even a matter of equipment, this is a matter of soldiers in NK not getting proper nutrition or medical attention since their medical technology isn't on par to todays time due to isolation, and even if they decide to change that now by requesting medtech from Russia, it would take time to condition the populace into being better immune to various diseases in the modern world and feeding them is another issue because Russia is undergoing multiple sanctions they can hardly afford to feed themselves let alone NK, the only reason they don't have covid is due to their isolation and the "cleansing" of those with symptoms so imagine what happens the moment they step outside of their country without all the recent vaccines required, it's a logistical nightmare and they are not in any condition for an invasion let alone a defense.

[@Stormbringer505]

I served time in Korea in the late 80s and 90s . South Korea is heavily fortified especially from Seoul forward to the DMZ . During my last tour in 1997 a 0-3 from 2ID G-3 told me that they worried more about the south going north than the other way around. Endstate which I still believe South Korea can hold it's own . Except for the Nuclear question.

[@amacca2085]

They would say that

[@javidmurvatovYT]

The only ace the North Korea has its nuclear missiles because I find it hard to believe that any state who struggles to properly feed its own population is capable of a successful offensive.But hey I'm not an expert of any sort so it's just my assumption

[@Noone-jn3jp]

My cousin was there about the same time and he had the same concern “ The US is there to keep them from going north and starting a war with China”

[@stofosaurus]

@@javidmurvatovYT to be honest with you I think it's mostly western propaganda.

[@PeopleOverProfits777]

America has been the aggressor for a long time now. Putting our noses where they don’t belong stealing everyone’s precious resources and acting like we did them a favor. God said Satan takes things by force and that makes American corporations and political elites satanic.

[@lipingrahman6648]

I was stationed at camp Humphreys for a year, my captain always said half joking to get ready for the invasion. The Koreans we worked with always assumed the invasion was today. There really is no true element of surprise.

[@DA-xk6ex]

And remember what happened in southern Israel. They too have been trained to be ready for an attack at any time.

[@HonkMok]

@@DA-xk6ex yeah. but they probably let them in intentionally.

[@f4ust85]

Reminds me of the fantastic (rather phantasmagoric) "7 days to Rhine" plan we had in the Eastrern Bloc, the sheer optimism and no consideration for the enemy to really be on par and put up a fight or show any initiative. You got to understand that these plans in systems like the Soviet or Korean ones are not really written with intention to succeed - it is not their main and only consideration. A big part is about appearances, to signal the right things, make your military appear strong, as if all the preparations were made, the plan was met. You cannot really tell the leaders that army budget is shrinking, the generality is incompetent, pilots do not get enough hours in the air, tanks are on the level of 1965...

[@romanzusman2892]

You refer to the things that were designed 60 years ago and were obsolete even then. Today's dictators have much more sophisticated plans that also involve hackers/trolls/use of hypersonic missiles /ballistic missiles and drones (including a marine ones). And they cooperate closely now - China, Kim, Ruzzia, Iran and it's proxies... Shared economy via cheap oil and shadow tanker fleets, corrupt and greedy electronics ' suppliers in the West (hello texas instruments!) is a recipe for disaster and an unprecedented loss of life (ask Ukrainians they know what soviet made dictators with oligarchs' and population support can do)

[@rabbitramen]

This fantasy is almost like kids playing war. NOKO is saying like "Okay, this is my parent's property and I make the rules here. When we come at you, you run away and can't do anything to us!"

[@f4ust85]

@@rabbitramen In Soviet union in late 1930s they had the so called "war games" and it was exactly that: Red army marshals and high command gathered in the Kremlin and simulated various scenarios of the Germans attacking them, with much bravado, circle-j*rking and child-like solipsism. And guess what: in all of the games played, Voroshilov and his cronies instantly counter-attacked, smashed the frontline and pushed the enemy somewhere to French border in a matter of days, without exception. So Stalin slept well and the Soviet defensive doctrine only considered pushing the enemy on his territory where the fight will be taking place. So when Barbarossa started in July 1941, Red army had paratroopers ready, with leaflets and vocabulary in German, what they didnt have were defensive positions, the so called Stalin line, which was abandoned, they stopped training guerilla warfare and so on.

[@travtotheworld]

If we know this is the plan, then the Pentagon also knows this is the plan. Would be interesting to know what they have cooked up to ensure command structures and resources are available even in this kind of a scenario.

[@zpacula]

Seeing the opening days of 2022 Ukraine invasion - I'd expect medium sized atgm armed drones being deployed to blast their artillery batteries. This plan assumes a surprise, but at the same time depends on their best artillery being amassed on the border...

[@old-schematic]

I'm sure they'll be the first ones to put their noses in this as they usually do

[@Brew10]

​@@stingingnettle9726Yes, they need your wisdom.

[@FloofyMinari]

@@zpacula The surprise is a non starter. We have satellite technology that will easily detect any significant troops movements. It's what we did in Ukraine as well. We had intel that suggested invasion prep which the Russians denied.

[@gkindustrialmachine1]

@@model7374

[@kenbrothertn1017]

I wonder how excited a A10 pilot gets when he or she sees a row of enemies tanks.

[@grujber7342]

SAMs would neutralize them very easily. Much more likely that drones are used.

[@asherwiggin6456]

@@grujber7342bro what SAMs? DPRK doesn’t have very many Sams, mostly immobile SA-3s and 5s if I remember correctly. SA-7s and SA-12s could be a problem though

[@wyldhowl2821]

Creams their flight suit, I imagine.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Most likely like any other combat soldier they're pretty scared until the action starts, then when the fight's underway they're too busy to be scared.

[@pseudonym745]

Very much, as he can never be sure if he is targeting friend or foe with his mark 1 eyeball

[@Seroc99]

As a retired (and old broken down US Navy Commander), I look forward to the videos you put out. I claim I’m a history buff but you are a history expert! I lived in Korea at Yongsan from 82 to 85 and there was kind of a prevailing thought about the north. Suppose they could pull off a surprise invasion and South Korea/US intel didn’t see the preparations. As the bulk of the NK army drives south, they would see the stark difference in the South and there would be a huge blow to morale and even a lot of defections. Do you think that would be a factor in any invasion of the south?

[@AndrewJeffersonCotter]

Great point about the soldiers seeing the higher standards of living. When things start to go bad for NK soldiers, too many would defect/surrender.

[@gustavo320]

No. They've been brain washed. At most, they would think it is south Korea trying to show off a fake reality

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

A VERY interesting point you brought up! If what I've read is true the Soviets had the same concern with the East German Army, the Nationale Volks Armee (NVA) if they were part of an invasion of Western Europe as they certainly would have been. Would they fight, or defect to the West Germans?

[@sammpcidluckey5982]

My 2nd tour of Korea was with the 2nd MP/2nd INF at Camp Casey in the early 80s. One of our monthly alerts was altered significantly, by General Kingston. He ordered to simulate that all the post alert-sirens were disabled and inactive, requiring runners from every unit to find their soldiers at unknown locations in Tong Du Chong. We were in total chaos, even MPs, especially with more soldiers than normal exiting Camp Casey. He was wise to initiate such a division wide alert! I figured we at least at Casey/and/Pelham/Stanley, JSA, etc... would know war had started before we had time to sound the alert. If your bored on KZbin someday, my channel SAM MP CID LUCKEY has photo collages videos of my two tours with 8th Army in Korea, and two tours with 7th Army in Europe. Skip past the fungus videos, I am trying to learn photoshop and premier pro. I want to do two documentaries about two incidents that happened in Korea during my time. Bye. Sam Luckey

[@johnmurdoch8534]

Didnt work during ww2. Soviets infact were that much more pissed off when they pushed west and saw the way germans had been living..and why people who were fairly prosperous would want to take what little the russians had. The north koreans do not see themselves as aggressive. They are essentially in siege mentality (and with good cause) and would see their invasion as essentially a defense against imperialism.

[@NorthernTorch]

From 2:20 until 2:41...every A10 pilot just creamed their pants.

[@obombomattatetrahondamog1461]

It would be nice to see a video on South Korea's response to such an invasion as a follow-up.

[@fumbahphiri9462]

Surey A10 warthog will be in action by then

[@mrdynamic8678]

It’s a big red button

[@alanaldpal950]

With out air superiority, North Korea forces could initially do a lot of damage along the border regions, but would eventually be decimated by US and allied Air power

[@ironleeFPS]

💯👍🏻

[@bigbasil1908]

North Korea is not Iraq or Libya...

[@tomhenry897]

By then be in Soul

[@traumvonhaiti]

Assuming US and allies aren't bogged down in other conflicts already.

[@NathansWargames]

North Korea does have the largest Special forces in the world ( in terms of numbers) numbering in the 10s of thousands, they are not DELTA/SAS quality, but that would be the main attack from the North that would do some serious damage in the south before the wider world comes and helps South Korea

[@mogh2603]

Day 1 will have spectacular success, however, later developments depend on how skillfully the armored units of S. Korea are hidden and protected, if most of these do survive the initial bombardment then they can halt the North's armored thrust because they have much superior tanks. In addition, the South has a superior air force that can retaliate fiercely on Day 2, not just against advancing columns, but deep inside the North itself

[@HanginInSF]

Day 2? Try within 10 minutes.

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

However don’t forget the tunnels under the dmz.

[@TheAlexpaul007]

@@HanginInSFsouth korea cannot do anything without the US of A read about how they quickly saved kids from a drowning ship a few years back 2 mins has gotta be a joke.

[@user-uc4zb2jk4j]

​​@@minhthunguyendang9900the tunnels which are fully mapped out? The tunnels are no longer a threat. This was sorted back in the 70s

[@mogh2603]

@@user-uc4zb2jk4j nop, it was NEVER sorted out, since prehistory down to current Gaza war, tunnels had proven invincible, literally... US tried everything in Vietnam, Israel is trying updated versions of earlier technology in Palestine now, but both have failed miserably

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

In the mid 90’s I PCS’d from Ft. Campbell, KY to the 2ID at Dongducheon/Camp Casey, 702nd MSB.That duty station was the absolute worse assignment of my two decade plus Navy and Army career. I knew when I landed at Yongsan and the replacement company had a corporal board the plane, told all branches to deplane except the Army. Then E6 and below were ordered onto the tarmac. They were marched (just like basic training) to the reception center/in processing building. They were subsequently marched to everywhere. The E5’s and E6’s had TIS and it was demeaning for that to happen. Near the end of inprocessing we were all sitting in a large room and they started calling out names and where you were going in country. All the soldiers heading south were happier than I had ever seen servicemen before. Then there were maybe 60 or so left sitting. They didn’t call any names but, said to everyone: “welcome to the 2nd Infantry”. Then we were loaded on buses (at least they weren’t “cattle cars” and off to the in processing unit at 2ID. The insanity there was worse yet and that is when we did PT tests, “operation golden flow”, etc. and still the E6 and below were treated like privates. Marched to CIF, chow, etc. Nearly half of us all went to Casey. Several to Camp Red Cloud, Camp Greaves and so on. $hitloads of “hurry up and wait” action. Within a few days I realized that the majority of upper NCO’s and Officers were the dregs of the Army. Worst leadership I had witnessed ever. What CO has the motor pools of an MSB company lay out ‘everything’ during the week and then have them pull guard duty on everything? Monday, he showed up with a tape measure and was actually measuring the lengths of camo poles, spreaders, if sockets were the correct size (went through every single screwdriver, sockets set, Allen wrenches, correct tire sizes on all the vehicles, etc. I had never witnessed anyone so “anally retentive” in my life. He dragged it out for two weeks w/guards posted the entire time. I knew this was really going to be a “hardship tour” 🫡

[@edmundgonzalez8731]

Did a tour in 83-84 with the 7th Cav, stationed at Camp Laguardia in the middle of Uijeongbu just south of Red Cloud. Does Camp Casey still have the Turtle Farm? If it does, you'd know...

[@johnc2438]

Yes, as one commenter explained, "first off this isn't 1950!" The U.S. is constantly prepping for and updating various war scenarios to deal with North Korea. For example, I participated in an command post exercise (XPX) in Yokosuka one very cold February in 1992 where various scenarios were reviewed and partly played out -- repeatedly, changing variables. I worked the midnight to noon shift in the command cave at the naval base. We updated various planning documents, including what could play out. In 1973, I was on a destroyer as a young reservist (college break) while our four destroyers trained with four Japanese destroyers, again working through various exercises to locate and sink submarines from various communist counterparts. Unlike June 1950, where everyone in the South and in Japan and the Pentagon were basically napping, the information you present is not new -- even though it is indeed scary. We've been training with our allies for decades and watching, waiting, and updating plans in order to take on any invasion and push it back before it moves south. Would there be horrifying casualties among civilians and military, especially at the outset? Yes. Would the North Koreans actually succeed in surprising us and overwhelming us. Based on my experience, I don't believe so. Salute to you -- and a Happy New Year 2024 -- from a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer.

[@mkvv5687]

Greets and salute, fellow GI!

[@aylaalto3746]

What about the Vietnam war? Has everyone forgotten how it ended? How can you see the difference between a North Korean soldier and a Chinese one if they both are dressed in NK uniform and and use NK "battlegear"? I just wonder. But I'm pretty sure that NK does not do anything without having agreed upon certain things with China.

[@Rubia376]

@@aylaalto3746 there a big different between vietnam armies and nk armies sir

[@non9886]

you are delusional. usa is in agony. not even paper tiger cause everybody knows how weak usa are...

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Thanks Chief! And this old Marine sends you a "Semper Fi!"

[@lukerobinson3983]

It’s incredible the amount of military hardware they have considering the satellite pictures of night time in North Korea.

[@jeremyd1869]

An impoverished country like NK can do that when they devote most of their GDP to military rather than humanity.

[@Del_S]

Not really. It's a lot of much older hardware used because they expect it to be destroyed, and because keeping it around is way cheaper than building more of their modern weapons or importing them from Russia and China. It's basically a sacrificial first wave.

[@tonycavanagh1929]

Major weakness, so much kit, with no money to maintain it.

[@heybeter9505]

@@tonycavanagh1929theres no better incentive than a raised a barrel

[@roquetequito5]

yes! but they have no food to feed soldiers

[@mode-e75]

Since for Kim, as a dictator, it isn’t about the stated goal of unification but rather about personal survival, it’s not about first strike capability but the risk to him from a targeted US/Korean response aimed at his regime and his person. That’s the real equation, all the military buildup, is about giving the populace something to focus on besides their empty stomach.

[@selbalamir]

He would be dead within a relatively short time. That’s contrary to what every dictator wants.

[@esabria]

The problem is never the conquest, the problem is keeping the ground you get. Can they really get away with kicking the hornet's nest?

[@thespruesgatemodeling4054]

While the intitial bombardment would be devastating s ground invasion would fall apart incredibly quickly. Other people have mentioned ROK and American ground capabilities, but even if we assume that those near the DMZ are rendered combat ineffective, US and ROK Air power based in southern ROK and Japan would maul any attempted ground thrust after almost almost certainly clearing the skies of DPRK air power. The idea that on day 2 the DPRK would be able to drop a division of paratroopers into the south without them getting completely annihilated in transport is lunacy

[@GunnyO326]

I love how they have 50,000 "special forces" commandos to spearhead such an invasion. One has to wonder at how low the barrier is to getting into one of those units. Seriously, the US with a population 13 times that of North Korea can only manage about 36,000 special operators.

[@yousefalnuman69]

@@GunnyO326 special forces could mean small mobile units working in unison breaching the south korean border and rapidly advancing to meet their objectives

[@GunnyO326]

@@yousefalnuman69 I never said that they weren't "special forces" but rather remarked as to the obvious lack of quality dude in those units. Somehow I doubt even their best trained and most motivated would be comparable to our average Marine grunt, never mind our Recon units and special operations guys. So those 50K really wouldn't last longer than a few days behind enemy lines at best.

[@peterm7548]

I agree!

[@robrussell5329]

Anyone who can bench press 100 lbs goes to the Dear Leader's security.

[@jackbagley640]

Well done, Dr. Felton! I rather hope nothing like this ever actually happens ...

[@mccoybyz1099]

I agree, best straight up content, no fluff or spin

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

It did not succeed in 1950 to 1953!

[@TheStephaneAdam]

@@roydavidlivermore4664 It's wether or not it would succeed, it's how much horror would happen along the way. This ain't a videogame, real people would pay the price.

[@Red_Lion2000]

Would be better than being occupied by the Yanks.

[@shakiMiki]

It's so unlikely it makes the whole video silly & poitntless.

[@JGeer1746]

This plan sounds like one I developed back in preschool when my buddy and I were playing war in the backyard. It’s so iconicity bad.

[@BadgerMushroom2]

And the next day, the news would say “American citizens were held hostage by North Korean soldiers. So now there’s just a South Korea, all Americans have been returned safely and the former North Korean area is a huge pile of glass.”

[@richardpodnar5039]

Can we take a second to praise Dr. Felton for his excellent pronunciation of all the Korean place names?😊 Brilliant abd thought-provoking presentation, as always.❤

[@A_A_J.]

Yeah. I would have just said…. “All of these towns on this map…”

[@Spurdospaerde692]

No, we can't.

[@seangilchrist3102]

Ever watch the world at war tv series? Feltons pronunciation and tone sound just like that era of british war programing. love it

[@DonBair]

Teacher, you forgot to give homework. 😆

[@greybirdo]

Not until he learns how to pronounce ‘length’ and ‘sixth’.

[@Combatwombat-sn7ng]

If the North invaded and did manage to catch the South by surprise- which is extremely unlikely- it would likely be able to make some headway in the immediate term while the South and its allies organised themselves. However, technological superiority, the fact that they would be defending their own country against an army of conscripts and the fact that a defending force can win despite being massively outnumbered would probably mean a return to the current borders anyway as they wouldn't dare invade the North for fear of nuclear retaliation.

[@highflight41]

We can just hope it remains speculation.

[@richarddietzen3137]

Conscript might be the best job ever in the hermit kingdom.

[@Para_Kermit]

South Korea is also an army of conscripts fyi

[@vh1775]

I agree that conscripts are generally inferior to professional soldiers but I think the generations of brainwashing would negate the usual deficiencies.

[@cripplers8]

It’ll be 1950 all over again. China & Russia would jump into the fray as well seeing that North Korea is their puppet…..

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

The initial barrage would be terrible... The aftermath would be quick and decisive.

[@chester-chickfunt900]

The main question is...why hasn't the North invaded the South yet? It's been 70 years of threats, posturing and monkey punching. The answer is fairly simple. The North knows the USA would respond with tactical nukes in and above the DMZ. And modern anti-missile defense systems would negate the North's nuclear arsenal, which is assumed to be primitive. The game is very, very high stakes and potentially catastrophic, especially if China joins in on the side of North. Let's hope it never happens.

[@brentchristopher7363]

My son was stationed on the dmz in SK. Judging from what he said, Kim’s land invasion would be ripped to shreds long before enemy could get a shot off. Son said it would be nasty carnage. A surprise attack? Satellite monitoring , ground sensors all the electronics you can find will be in use. Yeah,.maybe artillery can get off a few salvos before they are melted. It wouldn’t be good for them.

[@noahsawyer7155]

They have a Cold War mentality when it comes to war. The tactics are late 50s and early 60s when the technological edge was non existent

[@chriswood9836]

Sounds like all the same technology that Israel has we seen how that went

[@siraff4461]

@@chriswood9836 The big difference there being the Israel attack was a few (well around a thousand - equivalent to a small school) hoodlums on ultra-lights and on foot. Thats quite a way from thousands of armoured units.

[@blank1778]

Then you stretch our forces all the way to Taiwan to protect it against the CCP then your really talking about a war. This isn’t going to a single nation invading another in Asia it’ll be multiple nations getting invaded by a few nations and Our country (USA) has a signed a pact with multiple of them to protect them against an invasion. We only have so many troops

[@OpenGL4ever]

@@chriswood9836 South Korea will learn from what happened to Israel and will adapt their systems to this. So this worked only once, it will not work the second time.

[@steffenpost9071]

Attacking the US and Japan from start does not seem like a very good idea to me if you don't want to get hit with all what they have got immediatly after. Those large troop movements seems to be more like a medium nuclear target than a great idea either. Sure, lining up artillery pieces like it is 1916 looks impressive but in the age of "if you are seen you are dead" and stand-off ammunition I think it would be a stretch.

[@colinhollenbeck5682]

Honestly no one here is some 5 star general but I would have to agree. Everything here is just bad idea after bad idea and relying on pipe dreams and what ifs to succeed.

[@Berkeli]

They will get hit by us the moment they attack south Korea, so attacking nearby us bases definitely makes sense

[@wuppas]

@@Berkeli The attack will be nuclear, nothing more and nothing else.

[@steffenpost9071]

@Berkeli oh sure it does from the point of delaying a reaction till you have fortified your positions. With the goal to make an intervetion too costly for the enemy. It might even work for US Bases in Korea but attacking US soil and Japan would piss both countries seriously of to an extend that the earlier calculation gets obolete.

[@paulbasher6359]

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Mike Tyson

[@bobsaber1443]

There is no way we wouldn't see this coming.

[@mjroberts87]

The primary purpose of the North Korean policy is to ensure the survival of the kim regime . At all costs . Invading south korea does not achieve that aim,, unless the relationship between china and the US seriously declines it is unlikely that china would back an invasion of seoul , particularly considering that many south Korean companies employ chinese factories to manufacture their products and components and there would likely be a decliine on western companies doing business in china , if they backed NK The third problem would he the reliability of NK hardware , sanctions would have made it difficult to get high quality components for this military hardware . And it would be more expensive. As revealed in the mole , NK due dilligance on arms dealers cleared unemployed chefs . North Korean arms have reportedly had high failure rates in ukraine Supply lines would also be difficult to maintain especially as it is likely commanders would overstate their capabilities to avoid upsetting the leadership , misappropriation of things like fuel and food has likely happened as well because of shortages of these things in NK Also how long would NK morale hold out when they encounter the higher standard of living experianced by south Koreans by invading the south , NK would be exposing its armed forces to ideas and concepts that are almost completely forbidden in NK or products that are almost completely unknown in NK . Keeping the army within NKs borders lessens their exposure to such things . Exposing armed members of your country to new ideas and concepts can be a dangerous move for a dictator The plan probably assumes limited SK resistance as the war planners have probably been fed propoganda that they would be welcomed as liberators to SK when this is probably not true , (Similar to the ukraine war) The plan has six days to the river rhine concept about it. In that it would need to work perfectly to be successful, any dither delay and the plan falls apart

[@Strategikos]

Well said. Probably the best comment down here. As much as Kim is portrayed as a "madman", unpredictable and irrational, ready to unleash a war without prior notice just for his megalomaniac psychosis, he and his entourage are actually very rational. They want first and foremost to stay in power (this is also why they develped nuclear weapons: ultimate deterrence) and know that starting a war would very likely be their end. Then sure, people do not always act rationally, and sometimes the unexpected/unlikely happens, but I believe the "madman Kim" narrative is largely exaggerated.

[@stevieray6216]

Good analysis imo. I’m concerned, however, that NK leadership might be foolhardy or delusional enough to BELIEVE they could pull off an invasion. Remember when their national soccer team went to the 2010 world cup in South Africa, announcing they would win it all for Chairman Kim? It looked like they were genuinely surprised they got their *** whipped...

[@twhis9843]

Your point about SK being an integral part of the modern manufacturing world is well said. There is no one in China that would want to replace SK representatives with NK folks. China is not the China of Mao. They are fine with NK being an odd little buffer zone. And Kim is easy to keep happy because he operates in his own little world. I don’t believe reunification is anything but a Kim propaganda piece that will remain a rallying cry for some time.

[@calvint_rallycross]

A-10 pilots seeing all that mobile artillery sitting close together in a long line: 🤤 *happy BRRRT noises*

[@xxxxxx-tq4mw]

I remember landing in Kimpo airport, 01/1969 as a u.s. army draftee for a 13 month tour, noticing the antiaircraft guns encircling that airport and discerning a warlike tenseness in the atmosphere, so upon arriving at the Ascom replacement depot and checking a map for the furthest south u.s. army installation, i weaseled an assignment down in Busan, spelled Pusan back then, and was sure glad i did, much more relaxed down there, weather wise too.

[@mkvv5687]

I took a hop to Pusan back in the '70s and rode a train up to Seoul. I expected a rickety Trans-Siberian Express and was pleasantly surprised at the roomy, comfortable seats and modern cars.

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

@@mkvv5687 Unlike the July 1950 trains when the newly arrived USMC had to constantly rewind the mechanic at gunpoint to get them going to the Perimeter. Re : David Douglas Duncan “This Is War !”

[@amocat_13]

Having served at Camp Casey, I think you missed the part where the 3 ROK Armies execute a defense in depth using selected engagement areas where the enemies axis of advanced is canalized, likely delaying and eventually destroying the North Korean armored ground assault. You also missed the part where the American HIMARs Brigade executes counter fire missions deep into PY attacking strategic and tactical targets at each echelon. SK radar will detect and transmit locations of enemy artillery units and counter fire missions will be executed across the battle space. Lastly, the NK equipment is extremely old and maintenance is likely to be mostly ineffective - it's possible more the 50% of the NK mechanized forces won't make it out of their hide sites....

[@localdude3702]

Source: Trust me bro, Im American.

[@flyingsword135]

South Korea has reduced its military...now relies on "technology".

[@amocat_13]

@@localdude3702 😂😂. More of a "trust me, I've practiced this" but okay we can go with yours.

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

@amocat_13, yup, "Rocket Boy's" plan seems to depend on there being practically zero defensive action for at least several days. And then he seems to believe that there will be no attempt to re-take any territory whatsoever. My personal belief is that it's just propaganda for his own people. In other words: "We can achieve victory - you just must keep sacrificing".

[@brianpendergast2894]

Good comment!

[@bigk4755]

I have not been in S Korea since 1977-78, so my two cents is somewhat dated. But there are a couple of obstacles/barriers that N Korea’s armor and infantry have to seize control of if they are to successfully invade in massive numbers quickly. One of those obstacles is the Imjin River which is fairly wide and deep, and runs sort of along and just south of the DMZ across most of the peninsula. To overcome that there are (or were) two main bridges that crossed the Imjin. Plans were always to blow those bridges immediately upon hostilities, which would strand a couple of battalions of 2’nd Div combat troops in no man’s land. Those 2 battalions were automatically written off as lost. In theory any massive armor invasion would be channeled into the western corridor and the eastern corridor. The second half of my time in S Korea we were stationed at Camp Howze, just a couple of miles south of the Imjin river and smack in the western corridor on a major highway. To be sure, eventually N Korea would be able to establish some tactical bridges over the Imjin River. But it would at least slow things down.

[@drawingdead9025]

NK would be using 90% of the same equipment today you faced 1978.

[@silaokal2074]

Russia,China,Iran, Turkey are in the mix,and launching of space satellite,& uranium erichment to nuclear power state of Iran only by Russians.

[@jonathanLToronto]

Thank you for your service!

[@whoami7721]

I spent the last year of my Army service, from August 1996 to '97 in South Korea. Most of the time I was there, I was stationed at Camp Stanley, near Uijongbu. We always considered ourselves, meaning the 2nd Infantry Division, a "speed bump" the North Koreans would have to roll over in the event of an invasion. This was right after the First Gulf War, when the US had defeated Iraq on the ground in 100 hours, but it was still a little unnerving sleeping in the range of enemy artillery. I knew I'd almost certainly not survive, but we all knew that military service wasn't a a Boy Scout Jamboree.

[@aga5897]

@@whoami7721 Unfortunately we only get propaganda about N Korea over here in the West - no data. The press narrative makes out that they're backward, ill-equipped with no manufacturing base, no resources .... yet they have a huge army, nukes and space-launch capabilities, which tells a whole Other story we never get to hear about. Thanks for the 'speed bump' analogy.

[@danielharland1354]

The old saying “you and what army” can be replaced by “ you and what food “ when it comes to the North Koreans .

[@Hadrada.]

I saw an interview of a former SAS soldier and he said nothing ever goes to plan

[@TheGamingMotionTGM]

True, it won't be just North Korea who needed the plan b. US and south korea would need to perform a quick move if the other side is crazy enough to deploy nuclear missiles after exhausting its outdated weaponry, cause that's the only real threat left.

[@SunnyLovetts]

Ohhh a modern geopolitical video, love the content Mark! 🎉

[@dougesque5224]

This sounds essentially like a 21st century Schlieffen Plan. Too rigid to survive any setbacks or mishaps, and predicated on an enemy which cooperates with the plan.

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

The Prussian blackguard thought his genius above puny mankind. Remember moltke-the-elder who arrogantly dismissed the American Civil War as “rogues’ brawls”.

[@bingobongo1615]

Well the Schliefen plan almost succeeded and failed by only a few shortcomings and some bad luck…

[@vividvideos6087]

Armies March on their stomachs in North Koreas case, empty stomachs

[@fmck]

It's ridiculous from the start but when they actually plan for "..feeding [the South Korean] populace..." I genuinely lolled

[@therainbowgulag.]

The technological gulf between North Korea and South Korea/ US is massive. The North, after initial success would be annihilated.

[@xanx3572]

Your pfp is the worst thing I've ever seen. Typical white conservative

[@Srbenda126]

Maybe true but it is foolish to underestimate North Koreans. They have a looot of firepower. Plus South Korean society is spoiled with capitalism, while North Koreans would gladly die for their country

[@williamrutter3619]

which is found on a $50 phone. this why nothing can be done to hamas, nothing can be done to houithi rebels and they dont have one of worlds largest industrial outputs and highly trained work forces like north korea. some how i think the next nm scale in tech fabrication will not save them in south korea. but what we need is good diplomats and hope war never happens. the koreas are brilliant in different ways i hope the unite one day.

[@tomhenry897]

But would hold north Sk

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Kim Jong Un became a 4-star general (OF-10) at the age of 27, almost as young as Napoleon (24). Clearly the ROK and its allies stand no chance against this level of military genius

[@johnarmstrong472]

😂

[@jonathanlong6987]

😂

[@4afq]

He became a 4-star general after beating a game of Risk.

[@jonathanlong6987]

@@4afq 😂

[@TheFansta]

​@@4afqHe became a 4-star General after consuming tonnes of lobsters 😂

[@richardroopnarine870]

I didn't hear anything about resupplying the invading troops. Also, South Korea would be able to counter the invasion as it wouldn't go deep enough to cripple a military response.

[@NorthlanderMN]

Your right. I don’t think anything coming south of the DMZ will get fuel, supplies, or food. What they carry is all they will have. You must be a veteran. Reading the comments it’s easy to spot people that think this is a game.

[@TheTazman49684]

Nukes- they have a handful, we have thousands... math is hard.

[@UncleTravelingMac81]

Great video as usual, Mark! I was stationed in Seoul and at Camp Casey during my tour to the ROK 2003-2004. It was a fun time, and although we trained pretty hard, the tensions were not nearly what they have been in the 20 years since (I can't believe it's been 20 years 🤔😬). Gone are the days of going over to Korea to drink Soju, explore Asia, and hang out at the clubs without a care in the world. Even though it was always in the back of our minds that Kim Jung Il had a crazy regime and huge Army only 30 miles north, we really didn't worry about it that much... things were pretty chill when I was there. No doubt the KPA would significantly wound the ROK and US Joint Forces at the onset of hostilities. I agree with you their surprise attack with a "shock and awe" quality to it would be terrifying and definitely have a very negative impact on morale. But on the other hand, US Forces stand by to support some of the hardest allied warriors I served alongside in 24 years in the Army. The ROK Army and Marines are truly hard ass dudes! On top of that, Koreans are VERY proud and patriotic people. Civilians who served in past decades would be breaking down the walls of bases to sign on for re-conscription. After a few days, an infusion of strategic response forces from the US and other forward deployed locations around the world would provide the military initiative required to push the KPA back over the 38th Parallel and perhaps further north than that. The strategic challenges, as you pointed out, primarily surround the nuclear capability of our enemy. While we would never use nuclear arms as a first strike offensive weapon, we can't be certain that they would not. The second serious challenge that you didn't mention is a potential response by China. If Chinese President Xi decided to aid Kim in his campaign (which I think is a subject of debate), it could be devastating to the defense of the Republic of Korea. As Mark pointed out, the DMZ, and the areas that surround it, have a "palpable" and "bizarre" air of depression and unknown. There is a subtle feeling of uneasiness in the background up there that something truly evil and horrifying is always right around the corner. Regardless of what the outcomes might be in a theoretical scenario, the absolute best we can pray for is that we maintain the peace at any cost possible...even if that means talking to a mad regime in the way a hostage negotiator talks to a terrorist. The alternative outcomes are possibly worse than anything we've seen since WWII. However, if that time comes, I have no doubt that ROK and US forces will respond forcefully to protect the Korean people! 같이 갑시다 "Katchi Kapshida!" "We Go Together!" 🇺🇲🇰🇷💪

[@julieinthenorthwest4594]

Camp Casey, MI, 1980-81. Back in 1980, and I imagine now more, everything was pre-chambered (bridges, paths, etc.) so even if there is no direct fire on the obstacle, NK vehicles and tanks are not going south fast. Then let's not forget about all the anti-air assets that are always deployed and moved about so as not be targeted. Yes, their artillery could devastate ROK and US troops, but as you pointed out, there won't be any surprises. I always said the reason we're (US) is in Korea is to stop the ROK from going north. If NK did attack, it would be a reason for ROK to take all of Korea and the start of WW3.

[@heybeter9505]

I think times have changed, the outlook is grim compared to the 2000s

[@wuppas]

@@heybeter9505 It is getting grimmer for the US ruling elite all over the world, including within the US itself, let alone the Korean peninsula.

[@wilmetteentwistle9242]

I was at CRC 2003-2004, we used to hit up TDC on the weekends.

[@bangmo7]

The US-ROK alliance is really unique. Thank you for your comment and for your service here.

[@kamilkardel2792]

I believe that any mass movement would be noticed by US satellites or possibly US or South Korean aerial reconaissance, which would make the attack less surprising than the North would hope. However, it would still be devastating and the conflict could escalate if China decided to intervene like they did during the Korean War, which would make the duration and the final outcome of the conflict even more unpredictable.

[@jeanlauridsen8596]

Don't forget that Russia has received a lot of weapons from North Korea during the invasion of Ukraine.

[@BouncingZeus]

​@@jeanlauridsen8596and we all know how well made it seems 😂😂😂

[@ericyoungstrom3634]

Signals intelligence. Preparing and implementing an attack on that scale would require an immense volume of communications all across the country, which US and South Korean intelligence would assuredly pick up.

[@jeanlauridsen8596]

@@BouncingZeus Yes, that is another thing. But Russia is going to help North Korea.

[@Novusod]

North Korea's best strategy would be to wait for the US to be distracted in some other war. Maybe if America has to send troops to bail out Ukraine or needs to rescue Israel from a wider war in the middle East. That would be the Ideal time for North Korea to strike. Or the even bigger black swan. Wait for China to invade Taiwan. The US would not be able to fight 4 wars all at once.

[@aussietaipan8700]

3 days old is this video and over 4700 comments, well done Mark.

[@MyGunDiary]

Mark used a screen shot of one of my videos at 4:06. Nice. No problem. A credit would be nice though. ;) big fan of yours Mark!

[@aegwyrt]

Piggy could make a big mess, but it would be the last thing he did. As for his ground forces: malnourished with kit more antiquated than some of the wagons in the Bovington collection.

[@ChairmanKim]

I appreciate Mark’s effort on making this video about my glorious country. I just want to say, I have changed my plans after seeing this video. Good job Mark! 😘 - Chairman Kim

[@jonathanbaron-crangle5093]

LOL

[@lateralus8973]

@@tabletopgeneral7255 lmao

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

@@tabletopgeneral7255 He did already.

[@randymoran67]

Love your haircut going to pattern this with my male pattern baldness

[@pmgn8444]

"No plan survives contact with the enemy."

[@wyldhowl2821]

Just one thing I noticed with this video (and I know I am not alone in noticing): the total lack of the naval aspect to any NK invasion and the response to it.

[@N1ghtxD4y]

Not surprising; their Navy has superiority with submarines but their surface fleet is no match for either South Korea's or the USN. They don't seem to have any amphibious landing capability (or if they do, it's rudimentary), and their Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea fleets are incapable of supporting each other

[@AntiFederalist58]

I served there twice in the 1980s. I try to keep up on current events in respect to the Korean peninsula. In spite of the nuclear component, I don't think that the Norks would be successful unless they get help like they did during 1950 - 1953.

[@alanaldpal950]

No way China supports them, unless it is to stop the entirety of North Korea from being over run in the ensuing counter attack. (Unless China decides to invade Taiwan at the same time)

[@stevetournay6103]

Which, from a dictator-worshipping US administration...they very well might. In Ukraine that's already becoming likelier than not.

[@andrewaustin6369]

China isn't going to risk economic Armageddon for North Korea's sake and if they are that stupid it will be the fall of two regimes and a much more dangerous world in the aftermath.

[@artlover1477]

Exactly AF, you think China would their little stepchild get over run? Unlikely!!!

[@NathansWargames]

DPRK wouldn't attack the south without Chinas blessing. so likelyhood is that they would coordinate attack South Korea with a major movement against Taiwan from the Chinese, the 7th fleet in Japan is huge but not big enough to engage in 2 theateres

[@Redneck2393]

The artillery/rocket strikes would be pretty effective, and the initial commando raids could see some success as well, but by that time, South Korea and the US would be well alerted that something major is happening and would strike back hard. The ground invasion most likely wouldn't progress very far past the border towns.

[@govinda102000]

Everyone in SC should be armed.

[@aaawac2174]

The biggest issue with this plan is within 12-14hrs of it starting there will be anywhere between 200 and 500 air launched cruise missiles from B52s and C17 Rapid Dragons. This doesn't include any destroyers, cruisers, or submarines that would be within range sitting off of Japan or Taiwan. Only being a 4hr flight away.

[@konstantingusarov]

Based on what we see in Ukraine, I’d say US will simply withdraw its forces a few days before invasion leaving SK alone.

[@GunnyO326]

@@konstantingusarov We were never in Ukraine.

[@BrorealeK]

@@konstantingusarov Are you trying to convince us of something? Or yourself? lol

[@wc7102]

This channel has some of the best comments I’ve ever read!

[@spiritofthetime]

It would all go swimmingly until lunchtime...

[@WolfoftheWoodsAirsoft]

Back in the early 90's i read a fictional book on this very subject. Given the era it was written in a lot of the systems Dr Felton refers to were not available then but NK did pull off a brutal strike using artillery and the freezing Korean winter conditions to move South. The US and SK forces were initally overwhelmed but held the line in various cities inculding Seoul long enough for the tide to turn...As with anything in war no plan ever survives first contact and shit happens. Let us pray it never happens

[@jeremyd1869]

If it was Red Phoenix I read it too. It was pretty good, but you are correct, US and ROK capabilities have changed a lot since then. I think the NK army would be in for a surprise.

[@dennisheger3076]

NK would be referred to in the past tense after day 3.

[@Wertyingf]

That's the defining moment in history when the north Korean regime ceased to exist

[@bangochupchup]

I was a 19 year old Marine in 1985. Spent a cold November near Chorwon during exercise Bear Hunt. It really sucked being out in the cold.

[@leddielive]

What, being out in the cold isn't very nice, now that's surprising in itself!

[@electrichellion5946]

There have been many tunnels discovered under the border with the South that were dug by the North. We went in one during a deployment to S. Korea in ‘87 for Operation Team Spirit prior to the Olympics

[@tomhenry897]

Probably more

[@ToxiDJ]

was there anything interesting in the tunnels ? did you guys block it ?

[@jopeco2538]

north koreans builded many tunels during the war with the usa. they later teached vietnamese to build their tunel

[@docstockandbarrel]

The thing about criminals that makes them so frightening is they don't realize how stupid they are.

[@jasonkinzie8835]

I wonder if those soldiers laughing at Kim Jong-un's jokes really found them funny.

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

Laugh / cry whenever wherever ordered to or else…

[@deanbuss1678]

I've been told by those "in the know", that the allies also have very specific plans in the event of just such an attack. Maybe I'm just a diehard patriot but my money would be on the Americans. Great video Mark!

[@FulkNerraIII]

Of course they do. Militaries plan for everything. This is just a general look at a likely NK plan. US and ROK also have plans to stop all this. They have had almost a century to think about it. NK would kill a bunch of civilians but get smashed completely. US and ROK are leaps above them in every area. You think the videos of Russsian armor heading torwards Kyiv were bad. Wait until the US and ROK airforce show up.

[@lonelystrategos]

Betting on the yanks in this fight isn't patriotic, it's common sense.

[@bennytsai4065]

​@@lonelystrategosso you want him to bet on China so that you could say he is patriot? 😏

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

My money is on them too, they are not just going to give in once someone shoots at them. The same thing will happen to any Nation that does, or HELPS to do it, as happened to Japan, Afghanistan, etc. And IF it is an attack such as Japan or the taliban made, the majority of the WORLD is going to help the USA. What choice will there be?.

[@user-zu6zp6zn5p]

@@lonelystrategos it was also common sense in the vietnam war.....................

[@Tora044]

I love the fact that a WW2 era ZIS-3 76.2mm field gun is shown at 7:37. An example of some of the ancient weapons still in service with North Korea.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Not that better stuff hasn't come along since then but a WW2 artillery piece can kill you just as dead as a modern one. Hey, for that matter a Brown Bess flintlock musket can kill you just as dead as an M-16! Not that you're likely to run into a Bess on the modern battlefield but just saying, you know?

[@opticfloyyyd]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706maybe, but it’s more about accuracy, reloading time, and a host of other issues. These weapons are deadly but literally rocks compared to what the US, SK, and Japans armies have

[@RWBHere]

I smiled at the MiG 15's.

[@exoticdachoo007]

Hey people laugh at old WW2 equipment but if you combine a WW2 tank and a modern one to somehow work together then the WW2 one is hitting much harder against enemy tanks when shooting at their side because of full caliber AP!

[@yasho.]

NoKo : the super duper secret plans Mr Felton : in today's video....

[@dynamo3590]

Bruh､😂😂😂😂 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@daviddenaldi816]

It's eerie seeing the pictures of the DPRK in the background of the beginning of your video- I was stationed at Camp Greaves/ JSA back in 1991 and it had that weird sort of eerie glow or haze in the air like it did in your pictures.

[@Kleavers]

The response of US and allies would be so insanely massive that North Korean would have literally no chance in the aftermath. But it would be devastating to South Korea :(

[@preemavivek2008]

There is also a very high chance that russia and china sends military aid since us intervened in ukraine

[@KurianfromIndia]

Allies more like puppets. Don't expect my country to fight because we are busy with China,Pakistan, Bangladesh and our own internal issues.

[@americafirst3738]

Only if China allows biden and austin/milley to retaliate.... Our republic is a laughing stock, I just hope the woke mind virus has not infected our enlisted men&woman as much as it seems

[@geoffrey9888]

You really think china would sit idly and watch a US beat north korea?

[@rusty8992]

@@geoffrey9888 No, they wouldn't. There is a treaty between the DPRoK and China that would trigger Chinese intervention.

[@shawnr771]

Most of the 155 mile long border is impassable to tanks. One of the few routes of advance is through Pan Mun Jom. There is a bridge across the Imjim River 7 miles to the south. The bridge will be in the water and unusable 7 minutes after the artillery barrage starts. All ROK, UN and US forces north of the bridge are expendable. The south bank of the river is heavily fortified. Getting across the river is going to be a major well defended obstacle.

[@notroll1279]

Hmmm... North Korea has done crazy things before... I wouldn't be entirely surprised if they had dug tunnels with enormous amounts of slave labour to strike in places deemed "unpassable".

[@deivydasbaksa3324]

They will trow men at the problem via human waves anyway

[@lukebertrichardson7799]

30 minutes is a very long time to expect a static artillery unit to survive.

[@frankgesuele6298]

These plans always look good on paper. "No plan ever survives its first encounter with the enemy." Gen Douglas MacArthur

[@ManiaMac1613]

North Korea's tactics are about half a century out of date, much like their military hardware. While the initial first strike would likely be very damaging and lead to catastrophic loss of life in Seoul, the counterattack from South Korea's armed forces by themselves would demolish North Korea inside of a week.

[@rossbach451]

Dr Felton, great work as always. People tend to see NK as 50 ft tall, forgetting that SK has a tough and capable military that has no love for their 'brothers' up north. Any notion of any significant NK air operations can likely be thrown out, unless surprise is achieved on a galactic scale. No airborne drop is occurring deep in SK. The arty is the real question, and it will cause issue. Bottom line, I have every confidence in SK to win such a battle, with the aid of US forces making victory certain. I do believe that SK could defend their country alone as well.

[@mickelodiansurname9578]

Not many realise it when figures like "5000 artillery pieces" are mentioned for North Korea. But S. Korea has 12,000 modern pieces, built in the last 20 years. N. Koreas hark back to the 1970's. A surprise attack into an enemy that out guns you 3:1 is a truly stupid move, its like kicking a lion in the balls and expecting to win!

[@andrewaustin6369]

North Korea's mass artillery would have a couple of hours to inflict damage before being destroyed en masse and how many of those North Korean troops can truly be trusted not to throw down their arms when they see how the rest of the world lives.

[@preserveourpbfs7128]

If the images of NK shells provided to Russia are to be believed, they’re gonna need that massed artillery to hit anything. I get the feeling that carnage would result, but not the operational effects they hope for.

[@mattyp6908]

Agreed. I don’t believe the DPRK possess much in terms of stealth capabilities but I guarantee you ROK has several layers of AA fire capablitity. From CRAM type systems to missile systems to, likely, Oerlikon type guns strategetically mounted around major cities such as Seoul. I guarantee you the DPRK would suffer massive casualties in the air if they attempted to drop 50k guys in that way

[@therideneverends1697]

@@andrewaustin6369 Thats actually an interesting point, they have been told they would be liberating the south but once they break through to the first town and see every house has full furnishings and conveniences, and every grocery store is stocked with a variety of foods, every citizen has a cellphone in their pocket ect, i feel like a well managed propaganda operation could easilly turn a solid chunk of the invaders into refugees

[@beekydogg]

This whole invasion plan reads like a fantasy fiction dream 😂

[@JonathanWrightSA]

Any North Korean attack could probably be delayed by airdropping food in the path of the advancing army. Starving and malnourished soldiers of all types have often delayed to engorge themselves on captured food.

[@nocturnal1970]

Food and porn mags will immediately stop any invasion, no weapons needed 😊

[@lordtherapeutics]

@@nocturnal1970absolutely hilarious and very true comment!

[@yuboio]

And crude oil will stop the US army. They love oil and resources

[@capricorn839]

@@yuboio Must be joking. US herself got oil

[@yuboio]

@@capricorn839 looted

[@tiberiusbrain]

Terrifying. They expect to be able to feed people?!?

[@Schlipperschlopper]

They have the best Hamburgers and Pizza in the world!!! Also Ramen!

[@tiberiusbrain]

@@Schlipperschlopper but SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

North Korean Pizza parlors are sublime!!!kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ2ciqhubdihq5Y&t

[@danmorgan3685]

What military plans on being surrounded and starving after day 3? Of course they are planning on winning.

[@w.martin9992]

Everyone has a plan, until first contact. Your adversary gets a vote.

[@DLG24]

I once went down the previously secret tunnels at the DMZ, I left with the idea that there must be at least 30 such tunnels all along the DMZ. providing a secret infiltration route for many troops. And Korean winters are the coldest in the world! If not it should be called such.

[@jamesblair9614]

I think the wheels would start falling off the thing shortly after the opening salvo. They would have done significant damage in the beginning, but I’ll bet there’s no contingency plan and anyone with the capacity to think for themselves has long since been liquidated, as a danger to the regime.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Also the fact such a barrage would wear the artillery down

[@Ravenslayer689]

This is one of the great Mark Felton Prouction videos! This is an amazing topic and with the Dr Felton touch makes for an entertaining video. I hope to see more work like this!!

[@legiran9564]

So Kim. After you blew through over three quarters of your strategic munitions in week 1 what's your plan in week 2?

[@This_is_a_burner]

I think the idea of 'beheading' US command is optimistic considering we have a chain of command for a reason and the means to communicate within seconds with people across the world.

[@0BAAC0]

I think you're proposing 1 of 3 scenarios: an attack on South Korea, an attack on South Korea that involves local US targets, and an attack on South Korea that involves targets on the US homeland (Hawaii). The first will see a large, but initially limited response, as US forces and allies move into the area to support... but then NK loses. The second will see a more comprehensive response from the US and local allies, building as resources move into the area... then NK loses. The third scenario... North Korea ceases to exist. It becomes South Korea's parking lot. What's left of the government sues for peace within 48 hours.

[@Alienvisitor007]

China is NK allie so they may intervene

[@scooter06rb]

Attended a war game of this while in the US army. South Korea and US were expecting very high casualties first week but UN, US reinforcements would arrive at southern airfields. Followed by more equipment delivered in Busan. In the scenario I attended South Korea was retaken in 3 months. Scenario ended there but South Korea wanted to retake all of north for reunification.

[@TheCaptainSplatter]

They tried that last time. China denied it.

[@connorscanlan2167]

Ah, a war game. Trying to keep the north's military on high alert as a way to exhaust its economy. Then turn around and claim "mismanagement." Clever.

[@traumvonhaiti]

Did that war game assume multiple other conflicts happening simultaneously? Ukraine, Israel, Red Sea, etc.?

[@chuckh5999]

@@traumvonhaiti or the CCP's troops doing its bit with Taiwan?

[@robfirefly]

UN troops? That paper tiger? What a joke.

[@leighrate]

North Korea will try this only if China decides to invade Taiwan. Under those circumstances they might calculate that America and its allied powers dont have the capacity to aid South Korea. There's also the possibility that North Korea might develop its ICBM capabilities to the point that it can hold America cities at risk.

[@JB-up8md]

Good point. I was tempted to comment about how unlikely this scenario is (NK's 20th century tech against US / NK versus SK, USA, Japan, AUS? / what happened the last time someone had a crack at Hawaii?) but if US was busy with Taiwan . . . Though I think that invasion is pretty unlikely as well.

[@danaeloucaidou4991]

Just the mere fact that a Mig 21 was shown in the video as well as T55 and T62 equivalent type tanks tells you all you need to know

[@hunterscott3000]

Not that they aren't a threat, but i feel like they'll be more interested in the grocery stores than fighting.

[@electrichellion5946]

The South Korean troops we encountered while training with them were very capable troops and were very well trained. On a physical fitness level I’d say was at a minimum equal to US forces and all were skilled martial artists unlike US forces in my unit except for the one south Korean in our unit who as skilled as our counterparts which I did note.

[@johnarmstrong472]

Meanwhile, I belive most North Korean soldiers are suffering from malnutrition...

[@flyingsword135]

Haha. Us troops are not very fit. Recent study said most are fat.

[@archstanton6102]

@@flyingsword135 Which study said this? Provide your source.

[@archstanton6102]

@@radovan739 Apart from WW1, WW2 and many more i coukd name.

[@terrywarner8657]

Physical fitness and hand to hand are not necessarily going to make them skilled fighters in all phases of the battle. One comment I heard about US Marines from the battles of Fallujah was how relentless they pressed the attack, and how well their middle leadership managed.

[@laddtryck]

I love how they are planning on barely any resistance.

[@DIYtryer]

I give a thumbs up 👍 on these videos just for the amazing intro music

[@bas4903]

And we wouldn't notice all these tanks and rocket launchers lining up at demilitarised zone either😂

[@MrWasGehtSieDasAn01]

I think the most important fact is that South Korea, unlike North Korea, has an independent weapons industry, and that in almost every sector. Yes, North Korea also has a weapons industry, but not one on the scale of South Korea's. South Korea already has its own modern short-range anti-air defense, medium-range anti-air defense and long-range anti-air defense is currently in development (which, by the way, is also planned be used against ballisistic missiles). South Korea also has a program underway that massively increases the capabilities of South Korean ballistic missiles so that they can be used as long-range precision weapons and also has its own cruise missiles. South Korea is also currently building modern battle tanks in contrast to North Korea, while at the same time is constantly expanding its navy and has its own programs underway for the development of its own fighter jet. No matter how you twist it, North Korea has no chance.

[@sorenkirksdjfk7310]

literally no one asked

[@MrWasGehtSieDasAn01]

@@sorenkirksdjfk7310 I couldn't care less what you say about it

[@striker6738]

@@sorenkirksdjfk7310 Actually Mark did ask at 7:05 of the video.

[@kineticdeath]

South Korea is, from what i last heard, working on their own 5th gen, they already have home made jet trainers and I believe a 4th gen combat aircraft. the north is using whatever hand me downs they've gotten from china and the soviet union with no capacity to build their own or modernise them

[@MrWasGehtSieDasAn01]

@@kineticdeath You mean the KF-21. In the first phase, the KF-21 is intended to be more of a 4th Gen+, and a full 5th gen variant will only come later.