Briefing

Operation Sledge Hammer

In 1993 and 1994, there was crisis on the Korean Penninsula. Never before had the threat of an attack from the North Koreans (Democractic People's Republic of Korea [DPRK]) seemed so immeninent against the South (Republic of Korea [ROK]). But things died down and crisis was averted in late 1994 after a year and a half of potential war. In 1994, the U.S. and North Korea signed an agreement under which North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear program. As Secretary of State Colin Powell said, "North Korea's decision to lift the freeze on its nuclear facilities flies in the face of international consensus that the North Korean regime must fulfill all its commitments and, in particular, dismantle its covert nuclear weapons program in a complete and verifiable manner" (GlobalSecurity.org).

"On 21 October 1994, the United States and North Korea signed in Geneva a Framework Agreement to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Its main provisions were that the North would freeze and eventually dismantle its existing suspect nuclear program, including the 50 MW and 200 MW graphite-moderated reactors under construction, as well as its existing 5 MW reactor and nuclear fuel reprocessing facility. In return, Pyongyang would be provided with two 1,000 MW light-water nuclear reactors, which would be safer and would produce much less plutonium (the key material for atomic weapons), in order to help boost the supply of electricity in the North" (GlobalSecurity.org). Clinton gave them this deal allowing the North Koreas with 2 very large nuclear reactors that they have been transformed into weapons reactors. This came as surprise in 2002 when the North Koreans announced they had a secret special weapons program. It is still unknown why it came as a surprise as it was easily figured out that the North Korean's, like Saddam weren't adhering to their own guidlines.

With the Axis of Evil speech and the War on Terror, North Korea got increasingly aggressive. In late 2002, South Korea held a vote. "The vote took place amid a surge in anti-U.S. sentiment, fueled by the recent acquittals in U.S. military trials of two American soldiers whose armored vehicle hit and killed two South Korean teenage girls in June in a road accident" (Foxnews.com). Roh Moo-hyun won but took a much different policy to the South than previous leaders. He wanted to become less dependant on the United States and disliked Bush, calling him "Trigger Happy." Unfortunately things got worse and in May 2003, Roh abandoned all help from the United States demanding a withdrawal of all US forces. However, Roh insisted that Nike-Hercules and Patriot batteries remain. Not happy with the abandonment of alliance, the United States removed all its presence including missile batteries. After 2 months of no US support, the North Koreans built up an even more sizable military even continuing into the de-militarized zone. Numerous requests to help South Korea was sent to the UN from the United States as well as directly to the ROK but all requests were denied. On January 6, after nearly 7 months of complete and total US absence, the North Koreans shot down Roh's personal airliner while en route to China.

Roh's successor immediately requested that American presence return, fearing an invasion from the North. After a very rapid 3 week build up, US presence was the same as it had been with a 10% increase. Nonetheless, in April of 2004, North Korean aggression reached an all-time high with repeated incursions into the DMZ and along the DMZ in ROK terroritory. Between March 2 and March 22, the United States, the ROK, Japan, and North Korea entered serious talks about the DMZ and the aggression. UN presence in the area increased but was only counter-productive. Finally on March 23, North Korea refused talks and war was on the horizon. On April 1, 2004, the United States handed North Korea a deadline to withdraw from the DMZ and it is May 15. On April 2, they are joined by a small British task force including 2 destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and 10,000 troops.

You begin on April 2, 2004 with reconnaissance missions and CAP flights. Beware of the DMZ and beware of the DPRK, things aren't peachy anymore.