The Real North Korea Threat Isn't a War (Think Collapse Instead)

[TomSea]

September 6, 2019 Topic: Security Blog Brand: The Buzz Tags: North KoreaKorean PeninsulaMilitaryWarKim Jong-un
The Real North Korea Threat Isn't a War (Think Collapse Instead)

American and South Korean forces are prepared for such a scenario.
by Priya Sethi

ROK forces must also be prepared to provide humanitarian assistance and emergency relief. The U.S. can assist by providing advisory support to build capacity in disaster relief delivery and crisis planning. The U.S. should encourage the ROK government and private sector to build greater stockpiles of portable water, medical supplies, food rations and temporary shelters that the military can reach upon for immediate distribution.

(This article first appeared several years ago and is being republished due to reader interest.)

Speculation on the eventuality of a North Korean government collapse has fueled analysts and policy makers for years. From the famine and economic crisis in the 1990s to recent political purges within the Kim Jong-un government, the potential for collapse always seems to be around the corner. Regardless of how changes take place on the peninsula, North Korea’s entrenched security structures, humanitarian complexities and depleted infrastructure will induce significant instability challenges for regional actors. As calls to support unification and prepare for contingency of an unexpected collapse continue, it is an opportune time for U.S. forces, located on the Korean peninsula, to help the ROK (Republic of Korea) military prepare for stabilization and humanitarian relief efforts.

U.S. forces should leverage their operational experience from recent military campaigns and its unique relationship within the ROK-U.S. Alliance to provide capacity building and security assistance in stability operations, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration and humanitarian assistance. Strengthening capacity and coordination now will propel ROK military planning from a demand-driven response to an informed, supply-led posture in confronting anticipated instability challenges.

More at: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/real-north-korea-threat-isnt-war-think-collapse-instead-78836