Second Korean War

## The Second Korean War

The Second Korean War, often referred to as 2KW or KWII, was a conflict that lasted from 2026 to 2030.

The United States was still reeling from The Great Rumble, which severely hindered the strategic capabilities of the western CONUS. Jung-Kim saw this as a limited opportunity to finally finish the Korean War once and for all.

After a serious border incident between North and South Korea, North Korea officially restarted the cold war between the two nations, with assistance from Russia and China, though they were not partaking in the ordeal (Russia was still recovering from the loss of the Russo-Ukrainian War, China was recovering from the 2022 economic crash). North Korea took advantage of The Great One decimating the western seaboard of CONUS to attempt a blitz against South Korea.

Although South Korea had never officially joined NATO in any capacity, it still received foreign assistance from NATO members, and its allies of the Asia-Pacific alliance, Japan and Australia. The USA who had guaranteed South Korea’s independence for decades joined in its defense.

On December 27, 2028, the Siege of Pyongyang began, with heavy resistance. One month later, on January 18, 2029, North Korea released a nanovirus into the water to deter its attackers, dubbed 23X212 internally. However, the disease had an unprecedented spread into the global water supply, which had deadly effects around the globe. An international agreement to stop the spread of the virus began. China and Russia join the Southern Alliance and begin to attack from the north. By 2030, Jung-Kim committed suicide, and the Republic of Korea was established.

### Penal Divisions

Due to severe attrition from the Zalim Plague, the United States war effort was effectively stunted. On average, more American casualties were the result of the plague than of the actual war itself. Then-President John Alejandro Velenques would sign an executive order which drafted all currently convicted prisoners which were capable of combat. Those that fought hard enough or at least survived to the end of the war would be granted a pardon. Though it did sufficiently replenish U.S. manpower, many commanders and leaders would use them more as fodder, placing them in front of their more valuable troops.

Of the 2.8 million convicts sent to fight in the war, only 80,000 ever saw freedom.

### Notable People

##### Captain Bartholomew Lance Harper

Captain of Naval Beach Group One. Assumed command of the landings on Munchon after the sinking of the USS Bougainville (LHA-8) which held the rear admiral of Expeditionary Strike Group 3. His strategy proved successful, if not infamous (He positioned ships mostly laden with penal sailors to take the brunt of North Korean shore armaments, resulting in the disabling, then subsequent scuttling, of the USS Makin Island (LHD-8))

1. ↑ *“During the Zalim Plague, the United States was running low on manpower. Even the National Guard was being thrown over there, only to come back coughing blood through blue lips. So, President Velenques in his infinite wisdom decided that it would be a wonderful idea to enact Penal Divisions... If you shoplifted a pack of gum, they would give you a uniform and send you overseas. It was just Vietnam all over again, but many people cherished this penal draft, praising Velenques as a ‘strategic mastermind’.”*- Heather "Amaranth" Lovelace-Bellamy