South Korea have a fairly direct threat of invasion that at least somewhat limits how dysfunctional the elites can be without the risk of facing consequences themselves. Taiwan, Finland, Israel and so on.
1. American presence in the DMZ is an immediate no-go when it comes to a plausible 'threat of invasion'.
2. Even if the US were not involved - If you think Russia invading Ukraine is a debacle, don't think too much about what North Korea trying to invade South Korea would look like.
Because South Korea is successful at what it does. If South Korea looked like Thailand it would be a different story. And that is part of why it doesn't.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is actually a good example. Just the other way around. What is happening to Russia is exactly what happens when you neglect your industry and population to the point that you no longer have enough of an advantage in equipment or people willing to fight. Something South Korea can't afford.
> American presence in the DMZ is an immediate no-go when it comes to a plausible 'threat of invasion'.
They’ve literally murdered people in DMZ and have sent special forces multiple times to assassinate presidents. Not to mention artillery fire on a village fairly recently.
Nowadays no one thinks NK could invade but it was certainly a plausible threat until 80s.
vkou|3 years ago
2. Even if the US were not involved - If you think Russia invading Ukraine is a debacle, don't think too much about what North Korea trying to invade South Korea would look like.
underbrush|3 years ago
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is actually a good example. Just the other way around. What is happening to Russia is exactly what happens when you neglect your industry and population to the point that you no longer have enough of an advantage in equipment or people willing to fight. Something South Korea can't afford.
creakingstairs|3 years ago
They’ve literally murdered people in DMZ and have sent special forces multiple times to assassinate presidents. Not to mention artillery fire on a village fairly recently.
Nowadays no one thinks NK could invade but it was certainly a plausible threat until 80s.