Was North Korea Ready to Invade the South in 1983?
What if South Korean President Chun Doo-Hwan had been killed in the 1983 Rangoon bombing?
It is a safe bet many Koreans do not long for the days of Chun. But, as history and the tales of a high-placed defector insinuate, it is probably equally safe to say South Korea was better off that Chun’s life was spared that tragic October day in Burma.
Edward Chang is employed as a civilian contractor for the government. When not working, he is a freelance writer specializing in military and national security-related issues. He resides in Los Angeles.
Image: South Korean forces firing M101 105-millimeter howitzers. Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons/Republic of Korea Armed Forces