An Alpha Fires Mission?

I've said that if the North Koreans hit South Korea again, I'd expect our side to use air power since our advantage is greatest there. If we launched a big air strike on the asset used to attack our side, the North Koreans would be hard pressed to match us in the air and would then have to decide whether to let us retaliate, challenge us in the air and get whipped, or escalate to ground forces along the DMZ and risk a big war that ends with Kim Jong-Un dangling by his heels from a lamp post while angry and starving North Koreans cheer.

But maybe our precision long range artillery assets could be used instead:

The 210th Fires Brigade will receive the Army Superior Unit Award during a ceremony Monday at Camp Casey in South Korea. The award was earned through a variety of criteria, according to 2nd Infantry Division spokesman Joe Scrocca, including the unit’s actions during and following the Nov. 23, 2010, attack on Yeonpyeong Island. ...

Asked what the 210th Fires Brigade did the day of the Yeonpyeong attack, Scrocca said, “We can say [the unit] quickly established firing capability, uploaded 100 percent of its pre-positioned authorized combat load of multiple launch rocket system ammunition, uploaded missile essential equipment, and deployed counter-fire radars and launchers” to support the South Koreans.

Not that this precludes the use of a big air attack. In a joint world, if the target is close enough our missile assets could be used to suppress air defenses before the air attack goes in.

As long as North Korea's vile regime staggers on, there is a risk of a bloody and expensive war. Which is why I'd rather talk to them as much as Pyongyang wants as long as we come to no substantive deal and just let them die.

And don't forget, we've told North Korea that they got their last free shot at our side.