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Having "played" in the DMZ circa 1978 and worked with the South Korean units that were stationed on our left and right as well as those within the joint security area I have always thought that the main reason for us manning that particular area was to keep the South Korean Army from forays into the North. While it was no secret that the US forces stationed along and in the DMZ had a limited life span at the outset of any North Korean initiated hostilities because of the massed Artillery and short flight time for its MIGs, the South Korean forces were well dug in and were looking for excuses to pull the trigger. You see, that was part of the plan. Use the US forces to secure the most likely avenue of approach into the South to ensure that the US would have to respond to the attack. That provided comfort to the South and acted as a deterent for the North. Having said that I think that you also have to consider both China and Russia as players here to keep North Korea in check. They really don't want that crazed, train riding, fear of flying, elavator shoe wearing, idiot to overstep his bounds by fomenting a nuclear exchange anywhere near their territory. As far as the feelings and concerns of the South Korean populace, those that were old enough to remember we pulled their chestnuts out of the fire are no longer in control of the country and have been marginalized. Those that still make a living farming the land and populating the countryside really don't give a rats butt about who is in charge as long as they can feed their family. I am not sure that you will hear anything but applause from those that are most vocal today because they think the only reason why the North has an Army is to defend itself from US aggression. Just my humble opinion.
Jack Moroney
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