An analysis of tank gap in military balance between Republic of Korea and North Korea.

Abstract

At present, some analysts advocate (both ROK and U.S.) a reduction or withdraw of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula and a return of all the rights of command to the ROK government. This will increase the risk of another war on the Korean Peninsula. If war were to break out, Korea might be devastated economically, returning the people to the poverty levels of 1953. Also, war on the Korean Peninsula might lead to, or precipitate, another World War because the powerful allied nations (both U.S. and USSR) would participate in that war. Therefore, peace on the Korean Peninsula is very important and can be achieved if the ROK and NK perceive each other as possessing balanced military strength. NK currently has superior military strength. So to maintain peace, if the U.S. were to withdraw, it would be necessary for the ROK government to increase defense spending. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the tank gap as a major of military strength and provide some ideas to the ROK goverment for the military equipment modernizing plan. This thesis provides numerical quantitative assessment of the current balance of tank forces between the ROK and NK, as well as a dynamic assessment using the Lanchester combat model.