The four words "Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea", many times we only remember the contest between the volunteers and the US army, and it seems that only they are the protagonists of that war. But you know what? What would happen if these two "bigwigs" were withdrawn from the battlefield and left to fight one-on-one between the Korean People's Army and the ROK Army?
On the Korean battlefield in 1950, in addition to the famous volunteers and the U.S. military, there were actually two armies that were silently shining - the Korean People's Army and the South Korean Army. While these two teams are often portrayed as supporting characters in most historical reviews, a closer look at their strength and equipment reveals that this so-called rivalry for supremacy is actually extremely fierce.
The military power of the Korean Peninsula was not weak in those years. Especially the Korean People's Army, their equipment at that time can be described as quite luxurious. With the strong support of the Soviet Union, the Korean People's Army not only had Soviet-style weapons in formation, but also tanks and aircraft from the Soviet Union. By 1949, the KPA had 80,000 troops, armed with more than 600 heavy artillery pieces, more than 1,000 heavy mortars and light mortars combined, and more than 150 T34/85 tanks. The scale and quality of this equipment was definitely one of the best in Asia at that time.
In contrast, the situation of the Korean army is somewhat awkward. Although the U.S. military did not skimp on their assistance and provided a large amount of military supplies, including rifles, bullets, rocket launchers and even trucks, on the whole, the equipment of the South Korean army is still mainly light weapons, and there is a lack of sufficient heavy equipment support. By 1950, although the total strength of the South Korean army had reached 150,000, in terms of heavy weapons, the number of their artillery pieces was only more than 700, including only 91 large-caliber howitzers, and the number of anti-tank guns and tanks was relatively small.
This gap in equipment has a direct impact on the combat effectiveness of the two armies. We might as well imagine that without the intervention of external forces, the Korean People's Army would undoubtedly have the upper hand by virtue of its quantitative and qualitative superiority in the strength of the two armies alone. Their tanks and heavy artillery were enough to form an overwhelming firepower advantage over the South Korean army. Although the South Korean army is numerous, its inferior equipment makes them often passive in encounters.
However, war is by no means a simple comparison of equipment, but also involves a variety of factors such as the commander's command art, the morale of the soldiers, and the application of tactics. The Korean People's Army is also not vegetarian in this regard. From the very beginning of the army, they were systematically trained by the Soviet Red Army, and their tactical concepts and organizational discipline were quite rigorous. Especially under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, the Korean People's Army showed great aggression and flexibility, which was evident in the early days of the war in June 1950.
The ROK army on the opposite side, although it has been modernized with the help of the United States, is slightly inferior in terms of actual combat experience and command system. Although they have conducted many simulated training and military exercises, the real battlefield is cruel, and often the rules and regulations in training are not so easy to use. Coupled with the complexity of the internal chain of command and the delay in decision-making and execution, the ROK army is often unable to respond as quickly as the Korean People's Army in actual combat.
Psychological and intelligence warfare in war is also extremely crucial. The Korean People's Army also has a considerable advantage in this regard. Through underground activities and guerrilla tactics, they effectively collected a large amount of intelligence and used it flexibly in warfare. Comparatively speaking, the ROK military's performance in intelligence warfare is relatively passive, and it often begins to respond passively after receiving information.
If there really were only the Korean People's Army and the South Korean Army, what would be the direction of the war? We can speculate that without the direct intervention of external forces, the Korean People's Army is likely to take advantage of its superiority in equipment and tactics and quickly launch an offensive in an attempt to achieve a decisive victory in a short time. The ROK army, on the other hand, is likely to focus on defense, using terrain and fixed fortifications to deplete the KPA's offensive power.
However, the brutality and unpredictability of war are well known. It is impossible to say for sure which side will win the game, because the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and a small accident can turn the tide of battle. For example, changes in the weather, fluctuations in the morale of soldiers, and even subtle changes in the international political situation can have an impact on the outcome of the war.
Moreover, the protracted nature of the war is also a factor that has to be taken into account. If the war turns into a tug-of-war, the level of economic and domestic support on both sides will greatly affect the ability to fight a protracted war. Neither North nor South Korea was strong at the time, and continued attrition could put both sides in a difficult position.
Without the direct involvement of foreign forces, the showdown between the Korean People's Army and the ROK Army would certainly be an extremely fierce contest.