North Korea: Total Armed Forces Active forces: 1.14 million Special forces: 100,000 estimated (world's largest) Manpower fit for military service: 3,694,855 North Korea possesses the world's fifth largest military and is the most militarized nation in proportion to population (estimated at 22 million. Military spending is $5.2 billion or 22.9% percent of North Koreaâs GDP while around 70 percent of N. Korea's army is deployed within 65 km of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Overall, the effectiveness of the North Korean military is questionable. The majority of its tanks, for example, were acquired from the now defunct Soviet Union (Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks) - many of which are over 50 years old. In addition, visitors to the North claim that it is quite common to find abandoned military vehicles along the roads. A senior officer who defected from the Korean People's Army claims that the North does not possess enough fuel for military exercises and soldiers are told not to waste bullets during training. Naval Organization The DPRK Navy is employed primarily for coastal defense, offensive and defensive mining operations, and in-land support. Intelligence reports indicate that approximately 40 out of the country's estimated 430 combat vessels have the ability to be a viable threat. Included in this assessment are guided-missile ships which are equipped with Styx antiship missiles (range = 45km). Other relevant points regarding the DRPK Navy: Pyongyang's 22 Soviet-made, Romeo-class submarines are outdated and slow. 48,000 personnel 430 combat vessels 50 submarines (26 attack subs) 340 support ships :eek: I can see why the USA don't want to upset them. They won't bully North Korea like they can with the middle east. interesting times.
I am by no means a bushite, but you are a little off. China f's with Taiwan on a regular basis. And ask the Chechneyans what they think of Russia. I think we know the answer. That said alot of folks around the world have good reason to not like US policy. Yeah how's that democracy working in Iraq and Palestine? How long did it take the US to get it close to right? US forces aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
We kicked their ass once before, we can do it again. The good ole' USA was their to clean up the snafu made by the UN, and drove those communist bastards back across the yantze! China on the other hand....expect the conflict of the future to involve china and it's voracious appetite for raw materials. The Bear and the Dragon will one day go to war, perhaps 50 years or so from now.
An unfortunate state of affairs with that bonehead continually doing the precisely wrong thing in every chance he has. I highly doubt he's going to nuke anyone. He needs the show of strength as his regime is collapsing, and probably wants the nuke to mainly blackmail the U.S. for more aid, since he can't control his own Dark Age, feudal economy. Of course the NKs don't hate the SKs so they're not going to nuke them and ensure they themselves get annihilated. Only military reason for having it would be for deterrence due to their paranoia of the "Imperialist American". The <b>REAL</b> threat I see is Japan being forced to rearm and destabilize China's balance of power in the region, which will have long term consequences between those two -- since the Chinese really DO hate the japs and make it a point to hold that grudge -- or Kim's regime collapsing sooner than later leaving who knows what lucky finder to get the bombs. Like Maverick74 stumbling upon a short range warhead, shortly after visiting his Korean ex-wife. Things like that could happen.
So are the North Korean Special Forces the group that picks rice or digs ditches? "Special forces" is an oxymoron. My guess is that if the wall came down those poor bastards would tear Kim Lil' Dong apart.
I wondered about that, the chinese had decades of training under the soviets, the soviets copied german/their own/and us training, (and anything else that looked usefull) Have the chinese been training the north koreans recently? How "special" are they, in comparison? Besides, if diggin ditches and lumpin gear are the most important thing in an army (grunts wouldnt be called grunts, would they) then their well prepared by the sound of it.
I am with you iIii. Fox News is the best, the only fair and balanced media. CNN too much on the left, led by this dangerous left wing extremist......Lou Dobbs !!!!!!!!!!!!!
China cancels all leave for troops on Nth Korean border. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1759823.htm