It is estimated that the Korean People's Army's 300 mm rocket launchers can hit targets up to 65 miles away, putting U.S. In particular, North Korea's considerable artillery capabilities pose as a threat to destroy large segments of metropolitan Seoul and its 25 million people _ roughly half of South Korea's population _ and inflict mass civilian casualties and economic damage. To these ends, North Korea has maintained a powerful conventional military that, while antiquated, is larger than that of South Korea and enjoys the advantage of close proximity to the South.Īccording to estimates, the North Korean Army has in excess of 1 million active duty members the Korean People's Air Force operates 1,600 aircraft and the Korean People's Army Naval Force consists of east and west coast squadrons, special operations forces, fast attack torpedo and missile vessels as well as a fleet of submarines.īeyond this, it is believed that the North has approximately 9,500,000 active, reserve and paramilitary personnel along with extensive chemical, biological and long-range multi-stage missile programs. Since this failed undertaking, the North has viewed the Korean War as unfinished business while seeking to preserve the power of the Kim family dynasty. North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, was willing to sacrifice a generation of the North's young men in an attempt to unite the peninsula under his rule during the Korean War. Yet, notwithstanding its new nuclear weapons program, the Kim regime's nature and conventional forces alone justify Washington's military alliances with Seoul and Tokyo. North Korea's six decades-long hostility towards Seoul, Tokyo and Washington has for the most part been conducted as a non-nuclear power. military presence in East Asia – regardless of whether or not denuclearization is achieved. President Donald Trump must hold firm and maintain the U.S. In his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, U.S.

Asia spear girl