2020 South Korea To 1950

[Zyobot]

On June 1st, 2020, the Republic of Korea gets sent seventy years back in time to June 1st, 1950--just a few weeks before the peninsula-ravaging Korean War commences with communist North launching its invasion. Equipped with twenty-first century technology, military might and historical knowledge at its disposal, South Korea has a game-changing opportunity to not only change the outcome of the conflict, but also turn the tide of the Cold War as a whole. With this all in mind, what happens next?

Here's a map of South Korea taken from Wikimedia Commons, for those who might want it.

Thank you in advance,

Zyobot

[stevep]

Nov 19, 2019 17:09:04 GMT Zyobot said:

On June 1st, 2020, the Republic of Korea gets sent seventy years back in time to June 1st, 1950--just a few weeks before the peninsula-ravaging Korean War commences with communist North launching its invasion. Equipped with twenty-first century technology, military might and historical knowledge at its disposal, South Korea has a game-changing opportunity to not only change the outcome of the conflict, but also turn the tide of the Cold War as a whole. With this all in mind, what happens next?

Here's a map of South Korea taken from Wikimedia Commons, for those who might want it.

Thank you in advance,

Zyobot

Zyobot,

  One complication is that the borders were slightly different then.  The partition line before the war was along the 38th parallel, see Korean borders.  As such there is likely to be a clash almost immediately as 2020 S Korea holds a chunk of 1950 N Korea, which Kim won't be happy about and also there's a small bit of Korea north of the parallel on the west that is 1950 S Korea. 

  Do US forces based in S Korea come along as well.  If so I suspect they also have some tactical nukes as well, although they would be unlikely to be needed given the massive advantage S Korea would have in a conventional war. 

  S Korea is going to be very, very powerful in the 1950 world once they adjust to the economic disruption from the loss of their markets, trade links and the like.  Also they are a functioning democracy, which is something just about unknown in E Asia in 1950.  That plus their knowledge and technological abilities are going to make them very influential. 

  If, as I suspect is likely, Kim declares war over the loss of territory before what's actually happens sinks in, then its going to be pretty much over in a few days.  If China still intervenes it could be awkward, depending on how capable S Korea is at maintaining its forces, how much support it gets from the west and how much the communists manage to muddy the waters over what's happened as they will seek to blame the south as the aggressors.  However if they don't intervene or their defeated fairly quickly then that could have substantial impacts on world affairs.  [Would be good for Britain on a personal level as no Korean conflict to undermine recovery - although not too personal as I'm not going to be born, which is going to the the case for just about everybody on the site ].

  The other big factor is going to be information leaking out from S Korea.  I wouldn't fancy much for Khrushchev's survival when Stalin hears what happens after his death while there's also going to be a power struggle in China between Mao and assorted reformers to be.  Although I fear that Mao might win that and things go even worse for China than OTL.  Going to be many other ideas and information that are potential bombs for assorted groups and people around the world.

  Steve