Nations and South Korea have imposed strict sanctions on the country, and warned dictator

聯合國和南韓對北韓進行了嚴厲的制裁，並且警告獨裁者金正恩

Kim Jong Un against further nuclear development. That same week, the North Korean leader threatened

勿再繼續發展核武。在同一個星期，金正恩威脅

to release a “pre-emptive nuclear strike of justice" at both South Korea and the United

要對美國和南韓發射"為正義先發制人核子攻擊"的飛彈

States. Such a threat could allegedly provide the basis for a legal declaration of war against

這樣的威脅據稱是提供了兩國對北韓開戰的合法性

North Korea, and made us want to know: What would happen if the United States and North

讓我們想知道: 如果美國和北韓開戰了

Korea went to war?

將會發生什麼事?

Well, historically, the countries have been lifelong enemies. The United States was instrumental

在歷史上，這兩個國家一直是死對頭。美國對於二戰後兩韓的分裂

in the post-World War Two division of Korea, with the US backing South Korea’s development,

舉足輕重，美國的立場是支持南韓

and Russia backing North Korea. Since then, the US and South Korea have maintained a mutual

而蘇聯則是支持北韓。從那時起，美國和南韓便簽署了美韓共同防禦條約

defense treaty, meaning that in case of aggression, the two countries will back each other against

表示萬一遭受侵略時，兩國間將會站在同一陣線

an aggressor.

一同對抗侵略者

In fact, military alliances are where North Korea suffers the most. With very few exceptions,

事實上，軍事同盟是北韓最頭痛之處。除了極少數的國家

most notably Russia and China, North Korea has no real allies. Moreover, even Russia

包含最明顯的俄國和中國外，北韓幾乎是沒有盟友。再說，即使是俄國和中國

and China would be hard pressed to go to war with the United States over a relatively weak

若真的要和美國開戰，相對不穩定的政經環境會讓他們陷入麻煩

and unstable country. It may be more accurate to describe them as friendly mediators than

因此與其說中俄是軍事上的盟友，

actual, defensive military allies.

不如說是友善的居中協調者。

So with little to no support, how does North Korea fare on its own? Well, militarily it’s

所以在接近零援助的狀態下，北韓怎麼靠自己過日子呢?

a mixed bag. On the one hand, the country’s military dictatorship means that nearly all

在軍事上，北韓是個大雜燴。在一方面，軍事獨裁的體制表示幾乎所有的

eligible citizens would be included in their troop count. That’s an estimated 5 million

合法公民都必須被編入軍隊。根據估計

active troops, plus another 5 million fit for service through mandatory conscription.

北韓有500萬的常備軍人，另有500萬的義務役軍人

By comparison, the US has only about two and a half million active troops. Unfortunately

相較之下，美國只有250萬左右的常備軍人

for North Korea, that’s where their military superiority ends.

不幸的是，北韓的軍事優勢僅止於此

There is no question that the United States operates the most expensive and modern military

毫無疑問地，美國擁有地表上最先進、昂貴的部隊

on the face of the earth. The biggest reason the US doesn’t have as many troops as North

美國部隊的數量不比北韓，最主要的原因是

Korea is that they don’t need them. Against technology like fighter drones, smart bombs,

他們並不需要。憑藉著高科技所打造的fighter drones、智能炸彈

and billions of dollars worth of tanks, jets, and battleships, North Korea’s outdated,

還有價值數十億美元的坦克、噴射機和戰艦

underfunded, and faulty Soviet-era equipment doesn’t stand a chance. Their annual defense

北韓過時、缺損、缺乏資金更新的蘇聯時代軍備完全毫無勝算

budget is estimated around 7.5 billion dollars, while the US spends more than 77 times that

北韓一年的國防預算估計是75億美元，然而

on defense.

美國的預算是北韓的77倍以上

And while North Korea does have a slight edge of unpredictability concerning their nuclear

北韓的核武實力無法預測，或許稍占優勢

capabilities, realistically they’ve got fewer than ten, crude nuclear bombs. Even

但是實際上，他們擁有的粗製核彈數量不到10顆

one nuclear weapon seems like a big deal, but North Korea’s nuclear program is believed

儘管擁有一顆核彈似乎是很了不起，但是北韓的核武系統似乎

to still be in its infancy, and largely ineffective. By comparison, the United States possesses

還在發展初期，且大部分是無效的。相形之下，

more than 7,000 nukes, located all around the world. This is alongside a powerful missile

美國擁有超過7000顆，分別安置於世界各處。

defense system which would likely destroy a North Korean missile before it ever reached

它們一同構成了強大的防禦網，足以摧毀逼近美國的任何北韓飛彈

the US. In the end, there is almost no way for a North Korean attack to end favorably

結果是，北韓想開戰幾乎是不可能有稱心如意的結果

for North Korea. Kim Jong Un is undoubtedly aware of this, which explains why the country

金正恩毫無疑問地明白這一點，這也說明了為什麼

regularly threatens to attack but has never actually done it, and likely never will.

北韓不斷地虛張聲勢，但卻從未發動攻勢，未來也不會

But while North Korea may stand alone politically, that doesn’t mean they don’t have any

雖然北韓在政治上孤立無援，但是不表示

trade or diplomatic allies at all. Find out which countries support North Korea by watching

它們絲毫沒有貿易上或外交上的盟友。點擊上方的影片來看看哪些國家站在北韓這一邊

this video up top. Or you can get a bird’s eye view at North Korea’s military and economic

或者你可以透過下方的影片，全方位了解北韓的軍事和經濟實力

strength by watching this video below. Thanks for checking out Test Tube News, don’t forget

感謝你收看Test Tube News

to like and subscribe for new videos every day.

別忘了按讚和訂閱新的每日影片