A protracted war between the United States and North Korea is “now a real possibility,” a respected British think tank concluded this week. “Casualties in…
A protracted war between the United States and North Korea is “now a real possibility,” a respected British think tank concluded this week.
“Casualties in such a conflict would likely reach the hundreds of thousands, even if no nuclear weapons were used,” according to a report by the Royal United Services Institute.
“There could be far-reaching consequences for the global economy, involving sustained disruption of vital supply chains and markets,” the report said.
Pyongyang could strike first if it believes the US was planning a surprise attack, or Washington could draw first blood if the rogue regime test fires missiles near Guam or California, according to RUSI.
“This report is not saying that war is likely. But the probability of war is an uncomfortably real prospect,” said RUSI deputy chief Malcolm Chalmers, who authored the report. “If this war is launched, it will not be surgical or short.”
If incited, the US would likely launch a major attack — with aerial and cyber attacks — with a goal of disabling or destroying North Korea’s military infrastructure, the report said.
