Which statement BEST distinguishes the Viet Cong from the North Vietnamese Army?

A) The North Vietnamese Army fought beside the allied forces, while the Viet Cong fought against the allied forces.

B) The North Vietnamese Army represented the political interests of North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong represented the political interests of South Vietnam.

C) The North Vietnamese Army included regular soldiers, and the Viet Cong included a mix of regular and irregular soldiers and peasant sympathizers from South Vietnam.

D) The North Vietnamese Army was composed only of Vietnamese citizens, while the Viet Cong were made up of fighters from many South Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

I think It's B

I disagree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Cong

No. Neither A nor B is correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Cong

You're on your own now.

That is incorrect. The correct answer is C) The North Vietnamese Army included regular soldiers, and the Viet Cong included a mix of regular and irregular soldiers and peasant sympathizers from South Vietnam. The Viet Cong was a guerrilla force supported by North Vietnam, while the North Vietnamese Army consisted of more conventional military units.

To determine which statement best distinguishes the Viet Cong from the North Vietnamese Army, let's examine each option and assess its accuracy.

Option A states that the North Vietnamese Army fought beside the allied forces, while the Viet Cong fought against the allied forces. This statement is inaccurate. Both the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong were opposed to the presence of allied forces in Vietnam, including the United States. Therefore, it is not the best distinction between the two.

Option B suggests that the North Vietnamese Army represented the political interests of North Vietnam, while the Viet Cong represented the political interests of South Vietnam. This statement is not entirely correct either. The North Vietnamese Army primarily represented the military forces of North Vietnam, while the Viet Cong represented the guerrilla fighters and sympathizers in South Vietnam who sought to overthrow the US-backed government. However, it does highlight a significant difference between the two factions, making it a plausible answer choice.

Option C states that the North Vietnamese Army included regular soldiers, while the Viet Cong included a mix of regular and irregular soldiers and peasant sympathizers from South Vietnam. This statement accurately describes the composition of both forces. The North Vietnamese Army consisted mainly of regular soldiers, whereas the Viet Cong was a combination of regular fighters, irregular forces, and local supporters. Thus, this statement is a valid distinction between the two factions.

Option D suggests that the North Vietnamese Army was composed only of Vietnamese citizens, while the Viet Cong comprised fighters from various South Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. This statement is incorrect. Both the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong were primarily made up of Vietnamese citizens. While there may have been some limited support or cooperation from neighboring countries, the composition of the Viet Cong was predominantly Vietnamese.

Upon closer evaluation, option C, which states that the North Vietnamese Army included regular soldiers and the Viet Cong included a mix of regular and irregular soldiers and peasant sympathizers from South Vietnam, appears to be the best distinction between the two factions.