N. Korean conflict could kill up to 300,000 in days, report says

Renewed conflict on the Korean Peninsula could kill hundreds of thousands of people in the first few days even if no nuclear weapons are involved, according to a new report by the Congressional Research Service.

Given population densities on the peninsula, military conflict “could affect upwards of 25 million people on either side of the border, including at least 100,000 U.S. citizens,” according to a 62-page assessment sent to U.S. lawmakers Friday and obtained by Bloomberg News.

The grim report comes after tensions between the U.S. and North Korea peaked over accelerated missile and nuclear tests by Kim Jong Un’s regime, exacerbated by a war of words between Kim and President Donald Trump.

Earlier Friday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, saying the U.S. is continuing to pursue diplomacy as the preferred choice to resolve the crisis.

Yet with the U.S. also saying that all military options are on the table, the CRS report laid out in detail the consequences of a conflict. North Korea can rely on hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds within striking distance of Seoul, making it difficult for even a pre-emptive strike to prevent mass casualties.

Even if North Korea “uses only its conventional munitions, estimates range from between 30,000 and 300,000 dead in the first days of fighting,” the report said, citing Pyongyang’s ability to fire 10,000 rounds per minute. Moreover, the conflict would quickly spread to involve forces from China, Japan and Russia.

Trump is scheduled to visit South Korea as part of a tour through several Asian nations starting next week. The White House hasn’t said whether a visit to the Demilitarized Zone will be part of that trip.