Rnk: 6
Korea (KOR)
Korea would be ranked 6 (of 139) countries considered for the annual GFP review. It would hold a PwrIndx rating of 0.2077. (0.0000 being perfect)
Manpower (Projected) - Going beyond military equipment totals and perceived fighting strength is the actual manpower that drives a given military force. Wars of attrition traditionally favor those with more manpower to a given effort.
Total Population76,039,482
Manpower Available38,610,000
Fit-for-Service31,135,000
Reaching Military Age1,105,000
Total Military Personnel
12,274,750
Because the North and South would no longer be building up material and manpower to contend with one another, its military would undertake a broad restructuring and inevitable downsizing - its primary regional threat would come from neighboring China. Most of the North's aircraft inventory would be sold off or scrapped and the new air force would revolve around the Western-minded South Korean approach made up largely of American-originated designs with the exception of a few locally-generated types.
Air Power (Projected) - Includes both
fixed-wing and
rotary-wing (helicopter) aircraft from all branches of service (Air Force, Navy, Army). Air power is just one important component of the modern military force. Attack Aircraft represents fixed-wing and dedicated forms as well as light strike types (some basic and advanced trainers fill this role). Some fighters can double as attack types and vice versa - this is how multi-role aircraft can be of considerable value. Transport and Trainer aircraft include both fixed-wing and rotary-wing types.
The land force of the South would inherit a vast collection of tanks, Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and artillery from the North but, it is assumed, many of these examples would be done away with through sale to a foreign buyer or simply sent to the scrap heap. Even the South's large collection of tanks, Self-Propelled Guns (SPGs), artillery and rocket-projecting vehicles (MLRSs) would eventually be reduced some for budgetary reasons - putting its ground fighting strength more in line with neighboring Japan. There would be issue of integration of the North's million+ man army into the South's ranks, but, on the whole, numbers would most likely be decreased overall within a unified Korea to better reflect a defensive-minded "protection force".
Army Strength (Projected) - Tank value includes
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) and light tanks (a few remain in service) as well as those vehicles considered "tank destroyers". There is no distinction made between all-wheel and track-and-wheel designs. Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) value includes
Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) as well as Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).
Most warships and submarines of the North would be retired and scrapped to make room for the more modern surface and undersea vessels of the South.
Navy Strength (Projected) -
Aircraft Carrier value includes both traditional aircraft carriers as well as "helicopter carrier" warships (the latter growing in popularity worldwide). Cruisers are no longer tracked due to their declining value on the world stage. Submarines value includes both diesel-electric and nuclear-powered types. Total Naval Assets is not simply a sum of the presented navy ship categories - instead it includes all showcased types along with any known / recognized auxiliary vessels (not tracked individually by this site).
Oil consumption would be sharply increased as the North would have to be brought in line with the South's more advanced infrastructure and there would be a rise in need of public transportation and services such as delivery (of goods and supplies). Neither country has a robust oil-producing network which would inevitably lead to a drastic increase oil importation to bring the North up to speed with the modern world.
Natural Resources (Petroleum) (Projected) - As much as any weapon system is vital to an ongoing military campaign, wars still rely on the availability of natural resources, namely petroluem (oil). BBL/DY = Barrels Per Day.
Logistics (Projected) - War is as much a battle of logistics, moving man and machine from-to points all over, as it is direct combat. A quantitative/robust Labor Force also adds to available wartime industry.
Finance (Projected) - War goes beyond simple physical "strength-in-numbers", relying heavily on financing and effort as much as any one piece of hardware fielded. All values presented in USD ($).
Defense Budget$40,000,000,000
External Debt$781,200,000,000
Foreign Exchange / Gold$400,000,000,000
Purchasing Power Parity$2,000,000,000,000
Clearer changes to consider in a reunification of the North and South would include slightly redrawn Shared Borders but the shared portion in the extreme of the North, bordering both and China - to a lesser extent - Russia, would remain intact. Roadways and railways might seen an increase if the North requires revised infrastructure to facilitate travel and transport. Square Land Area, Coastline and Waterway totals would be relatively easily combined during reunification.
Geography - Geographical values primarily figure into a defensive-minded war (i.e. invasion) but can also aid a nation when responding to such an act.