In case you’re thinking a war with North Korea would be confined to the peninsula, think again. In the days of global trade, the backlash isn’t military, as Jacob Marx points out on 38 North:
A war with North Korea would have the biggest impact on the automotive industry in three states—Michigan, Alabama and Georgia. Between autoworkers, distributors and other supporting industries, nearly 25,000 Americans could lose their jobs.
In Georgia, more than 11,000 jobs would be eliminated. Some of those losses would be at the Kia Motors plant in West Point, Georgia, but lost shipping means the port cities of Savanah and Brunswick could be hit even harder. There would also be major layoffs at car dealerships, which, with average annual salaries of $57,200, could have an outsized impact on the Georgia economy.
While Georgia would lose the most jobs, Michigan would be hit hardest because its autoworkers earn relatively high wages compared to other states. With the average auto manufacturing job paying $73,100 a year, mass layoffs would be devastating for many Michigan families.
And asking them to make it without help would be despicable, so either taxes or the national debt would go up some more.
Not that we can’t go to war with North Korea if we must – but we should be aware that a war far, far away is not a war that stays far, far away.
