From BGG – Jakub shares [(kubaman)] :

During the autumn of a not so distant future, built-up US forces in the ROC, supported by 3 carrier battle groups in adjoining waters, finally decide to invade the DPRK to put an end to Kim Jong-un’s regime.

Game Setup:

Turn One:

Allied special forces infiltrate North Korea in an attempt to recon or target HQs and supply depots. Their efforts are marginally successful, however they suffer no loses.

After the Allied SOF phase:

Allied fighters now begin an air superiority campaign over the Korean peninsula, easily defeating the DPRK airforce. However despite routing, damaging, or destroying a large portion of the enemy’s obsolete fighters, the sheer numbers of them still gives the Allies only a marginal advantage.

Pre and Post Air Superiority phase:

First, US cruise missiles rain down on the DPRK’s SAM sites. Next, Allied wild weasels invade North Korean airspace and further degrade its SAM capabilities, as well as destroying some of its detection tower arrays. Later on Allied bombers start attacking HQs, supply depots, and border units in the southwestern part of North Korea, severally incapacitating the II Corps HQ, whose task it is to defend Kaesong. The highway north of the city is also interdicted. North Korean bombers venture south of the DMZ for what could easily be described as suicide missions, and are quickly dispatched by Allied airpower or air defenses.

Shortly after Allied air-strikes:

Communist commandos and fifth columnists descend upon the airfields and bases of South Korea and inflict heavy loses on poorly guarded US helo bases. However they also lose about 40% of their effective!

The area north of Seoul shortly after the DPRK’s commando attacks:

Then all of North Korea’s SCUD stockpiles are thrown against ROK’s airfields and airbases, destroying Incheon’s and two other airports, as well as two airfields, and severely damaging several others. Thankfully most Allied aircraft manage to scramble and avoid loses.

End of the first strike phase:

The Allies now try a coup-de-main by landing the 82nd & 101st divisions behind enemy lines, investing the eastern banks of the Yesong river and occupying Kaesong! At the same time ROK armor punches through the frontlines and reaches the outskirts of the city. The 2nd US infantry division advances into the wilderness further north to guard the right flank. Meanwhile, on the east coast, US marines make some modest gains into the mountains.

Right after the elite reaction phase:

Despite Allied successes the DPRK’s mount multiple successful counterattacks, push US and ROK units back, and recapture some terrain, including an airfield and town north of Kaesong. Further east North Korea resorts to desperate measures as it launches chemical attacks against US marine and army troops, pushing them back south across the DMZ, and recapturing Kosong. However Allied forces manage to maintain a sizeable bridgehead across the DMZ in the southwestern sector, and also pacify Kaesong, opening-up the main road to Pyongyang.

Chemical weapons are utilized in an assault:

End of Turn One…

Situation at the end of turn 1:

Turn 1 loses:

This is certainly no cake walk for the Allied player, and now they’ve stirred-up the hornet’s nest! Hopefully their advantage in airpower will enable them to keep pushing forward, however DPRK counterattacks can definitely sting, and carry a serious punch, especially when combined with artillery and chemical support!