Rome vs. North Korea

[Washington Resistance Army]

The North Koreans are quite a bit behind, but they're not as far behind as you'd think.

I don't think there is any conclusive evidence they are not that far behind. Nuclear arsenals are questionable.

There's a lot of evidence. Even the lowest end estimates put them at 20 or so nuclear weapons, which have been successfully tested 3 times iirc and the DoD released a report in 2012 that they had miniaturized those nuclear weapons to fit onto missiles.

[Sistar]

I don't think there is any conclusive evidence they are not that far behind. Nuclear arsenals are questionable.

There's a lot of evidence. Even the lowest end estimates put them at 20 or so nuclear weapons, which have been successfully tested 3 times iirc and the DoD released a report in 2012 that they had miniaturized those nuclear weapons to fit onto missiles.

Okay.

[Genivaria]

A challenger who got their own name wrong...

Virginia was already taken. Nothing wrong with honoring my previous name.

Damn I forgot to use that account...

[Arumdaum]

North Korea would win easily.

How is this even a question?

North Korea is behind other nations in the modern day in terms of wealth, industry, and technology. However, it is way ahead of an ancient empire that existed 2000 years ago. North Korea has much greater human capital; it is going to take a considerable amount of time for the Romans to educate people in and adapt to dealing with modern technology. While North Korea would be familiar with a considerable deal of modern and older scholarship (including tactics) dealing with Rome, Rome would know literally nothing about North Korea other than that it is completely destroying them.

North Korea is aware of modern medicine and healing techniques with a fair amount of doctors and physicians (including those who get to and go to study in foreign overseas universities). Ancient Rome? Not so much.

North Korea's GDP (PPP) per capita (which is more useful for living standards and internal economy) was ~$1800 in 2011, with continued economic growth since then. Rome's GDP per capita under Augustus was less than half that amount. Despite its relatively poor industry compared to other countries in modern times, North Korea has much greater and much more efficient industry than Rome.

Tanks, advanced gunpowder weaponry, and missiles would not only destroy Roman military ranks, but also Roman morale and Rome's sociopolitical structure. Rome's leadership would scatter and become disorganized, with the empire disintegrating quickly once major power and population centers are taken.

North Korea is pretty behind, but it's not over 2000 years behind. Holy shit.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Lolwut

Modern North Koreans are generally malnourished, and a significant size difference can be seen between North and South Koreans because of it. Romans, meanwhile, had an army standard that said recruits had to be minimum of 5 feet, 7 inches. That's a minimum, mind you. Modern North Korean males average at 5 feet, 5 inches, while South Koreans average at 6 feet, 1 inch.

South Korean males average at 5 feet 7 inches. Also 5 feet 10 inches would be considered rather tall during ancient times (and into the middle ages) and thus would probably be the ball park for the Gauls and Germans. Your average Roman was probably a bit taller than your average North Korean however...

You are correct on this, looking back I most certainly misread the chart for South Koreans, but North Koreans do average at that small, and the military standard for Romans was a minimum of 5 feet 7 inches. Thus, I suppose the average Roman soldier, or the minimum, stood as tall as a South Korean today.

[Risottia]

Now, this is pretty weird, but it should be very interesting. Premise: by the will of Allah (swt) modern North Korea and all its people fly away and land during Augustus' reign, let's say on the northern frontier of Gaul, replacing Britain and the english channel. Kin Jong-Un, since he wants to try peacock, invades the Roman empire. So, what would happen?

NK loses its logistics in less than one month because they lack oil wells. Electric power disappears as the Yalu river is no more. In the meanwhile, without having any import of grain and rice, starvation starts. People start moving out or dying in the streets.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Now, this is pretty weird, but it should be very interesting. Premise: by the will of Allah (swt) modern North Korea and all its people fly away and land during Augustus' reign, let's say on the northern frontier of Gaul, replacing Britain and the english channel. Kin Jong-Un, since he wants to try peacock, invades the Roman empire. So, what would happen?

NK loses its logistics in less than one month because they lack oil wells. Electric power disappears as the Yalu river is no more. In the meanwhile, without having any import of grain and rice, starvation starts. People start moving out or dying in the streets.

Which is why they invade Gaul and loot it for resources before they starve more.

[Gig em Aggies]

NK loses its logistics in less than one month because they lack oil wells. Electric power disappears as the Yalu river is no more. In the meanwhile, without having any import of grain and rice, starvation starts. People start moving out or dying in the streets.

Which is why they invade Gaul and loot it for resources before they starve more.

Which means they have to spread out their million person army and resources and that means easy pickings regardless of artys or AK's you can't have a technologically superior army if you can't protect your resources. Plus think of the time it would take to produce oil platforms gunpowder factories and ore refineries to resupply their military that's why I go for Romans all the way

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Which is why they invade Gaul and loot it for resources before they starve more.

Which means they have to spread out their million person army and resources and that means easy pickings regardless of artys or AK's you can't have a technologically superior army if you can't protect your resources.

Ha, easy pickings. As if. If Caesar can conquer Gaul with a million swords, Kim can do it with a million AKs.

Plus think of the time it would take to produce oil platforms gunpowder factories and ore refineries to resupply their military that's why I go for Romans all the way

NK already has gunpowder factories. Oil platforms can wait; steam engines are enough for trains and ships.

[Aggicificicerous]

Now, this is pretty weird, but it should be very interesting. Premise: by the will of Allah (swt) modern North Korea and all its people fly away and land during Augustus' reign, let's say on the northern frontier of Gaul, replacing Britain and the english channel. Kin Jong-Un, since he wants to try peacock, invades the Roman empire. So, what would happen?

NK loses its logistics in less than one month because they lack oil wells. Electric power disappears as the Yalu river is no more. In the meanwhile, without having any import of grain and rice, starvation starts. People start moving out or dying in the streets.

A single North Korean regiment can capture Rome in that time.

[The Two Jerseys]

NK loses its logistics in less than one month because they lack oil wells. Electric power disappears as the Yalu river is no more. In the meanwhile, without having any import of grain and rice, starvation starts. People start moving out or dying in the streets.

A single North Korean regiment can capture Rome in that time.

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

[Aggicificicerous]

A single North Korean regiment can capture Rome in that time.

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

[USS Monitor]

A single North Korean regiment can capture Rome in that time.

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

And why not?

[Dimasalang]

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

And why not?

Romans like to be the ones conquering, not the opposite

[The Two Jerseys]

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

Taking Rome =/= winning the war.

The Romans were stubborn bastards who held grudges.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

And why not?

Romans like to be the ones conquering, not the opposite

Carthaginians like being the ones conquering. Didn't save them though.

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

Taking Rome =/= winning the war.

The Romans were stubborn bastards who held grudges.

So?

[The Two Jerseys]

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

And why not?

Because they're totally dependent on a supply line stretching back to Calais.

[Aggicificicerous]

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

Taking Rome =/= winning the war.

The Romans were stubborn bastards who held grudges.

I never said it was winning the war, I said taking Rome would be easy. But I suspect the Romans would surrender rather quickly. If Romans can forgo fighting when faced with a conventional opponent (like Hannibal), how will they react when fire is raining down on them from the heavens? How do you suppose people 2000 years ago would explain bombers or modern artillery? They would probably see it as punishment from the gods. Just like the Incas were terrified of horses, how do you suppose Roman legions will react to tanks? They were stubborn, not suicidal.

[Dimasalang]

Romans like to be the ones conquering, not the opposite

Carthaginians like being the ones conquering. Didn't save them though.

Taking Rome =/= winning the war.

The Romans were stubborn bastards who held grudges.

So?

Touche.... Though if NK would wage war with Rome, with or without nukes, IT. WILL. BE. BLOODY.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Carthaginians like being the ones conquering. Didn't save them though.

So?

Touche.... Though if NK would wage war with Rome, with or without nukes, IT. WILL. BE. BLOODY.

For the Romans, maybe.

[Dimasalang]

Touche.... Though if NK would wage war with Rome, with or without nukes, IT. WILL. BE. BLOODY.

For the Romans, maybe.

Yep... Poor Romans.

[Marselesk]

The KPA has no way to replenish their fuel and ammo stores once they run out. Rome will win in the long run.

This, or they will worship the Koreans as gods upon seeing their technology.

[Laerod]

But they wouldn't be able to hold it.

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

That's pretty impressive considering that Cortez fought the Aztecs while the Inca were conquered by Pizarro.

[Aggicificicerous]

So? The question is who wins in a war, not who wins and can properly administrate the other side's lands. North Korea wins so easily it will make Cortez vs the Incas look like a close match up.

That's pretty impressive considering that Cortez fought the Aztecs while the Inca were conquered by Pizarro.

Aztecs. Crap.

[Napkiraly]

So does Rome...

Not really. China has basically always been the most densely-populated area of the world.

Actually no it hasn't. IIRC during the height of the Han Dynasty (which is early Imperial China) had like 57 million people. Same ball park as Rome's peak population (albeit they are a century apart from their respective peaks).

And the Empire to have the largest % of the human population within its domain was the Achaemenid Empire at its height. Something like 45% of all humans lived under it.