China could get drawn into war on Korean peninsula
SEOUL - South Korea's military authorities said yesterday they expected that China would be drawn inevitably into any war on the Korean peninsula because of a mutual assistance treaty with North Korea.
'China is expected to provide limited military support to North Korea, according to a provision of the mutual assistance treaty stipulating automatic engagement,' Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Jong Hwan told a parliamentary hearing.
China would deploy some 400,000 troops in support of North Korea in case of war with South Korea, which would be backed by its ally the United States, according to JCS data provided to the hearing.
China's support would include 800 planes and 150 navy vessels, the JCS data said.
The South Korea-US combined troops would number 720,000, while North Korea's regular 1.17-million-men military would be reinforced with 6.34 million reserve forces, according to the data.
North Korean troops, backed by Chinese forces, fought against South Korean and US-led United Nations forces during the 1950-53 Korean War which ended in stalemate.
The JCS chief told the parliamentary hearing that this time round, a surprise North Korean invasion of the south would not work.
He said that the South Korea-US combined forces had a defensive plan which would allow them to 'quickly repel and destroy North Korean attacks on South Korea'. -- AFP
China reportedly moves over 30,000 troops near N Korean border
Thursday, October 7, 2004 at 10:45 JST TOKYO — China's People's Liberation Army moved more than 30,000 troops to areas along the Yalu River, which serves as the country's border with North Korea, earlier this month, the Sankei Shimbun said Thursday, quoting a source close to Japanese and Chinese relations.
The source was quoted as saying the move is a prelude to a major drill or an arrangement to stem the inflow of a rising number of North Koreans at the border, according to the newspaper. (Kyodo News)
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