NTH KOREA FIRES ON STH KOREA

StillHere

unsung wrote:

I heard that the two killed were US Marines. Is that true?

i was wondering the same thing

it just said that 5 marines were injured and 2 killed

it didn't say who's marines

if they were OURs well then, that ramps things up a bit doesn't it?

geeez

this whole war thing all over the freakin' world sux big time

i guess it will never change...

so i'll just say as usual...

PEACE

(no one listens)

cajunkiwi

I would imagine that China values its economic ties to America more than it values its relationship with broke and famine-raged North Korea. I may be completely wrong, but if I had to guess, I'd say that China is well aware that if it wants to be a world superpower, it won't get there by backing North Korea in a pissing contest against West-backed South Korea.

jmurray

Don't think this will escalate. More likely an attempt by the North to get the Six Party talks going again.

ajedigecko

maybe the south will finally eliminate the northern dictator.....and unify the country at last.

unsung

ajedigecko wrote:

maybe the south will finally eliminate the northern dictator.....and unify the country at last.

Well, he has sons. Is this supposed to be Saddam Hussein part two?

gimmesometruth27

this does not sound too good...

South Korea warns North of 'enormous retaliation' after attack
Two killed after Pyongyang fires on Yeonpyeong island in first attack on South Korean land since 1953 war

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... outh-korea

South Korea warned today that it will unleash "enormous retaliation" if North Korea launches fresh attacks against its territory.

North Korean troops bombarded Yeonpyeong, an island in disputed waters, with dozens of rounds of artillery earlier today, reportedly killing two South Korean soldiers and injuring around 20 people.

Seoul placed its military on its highest non-wartime alert level, scrambling F-16 fighter jets to the western sea and returning fire, officials said. It warned that the attack was a violation of the armistice that ended the Korean war in 1953.

The South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, who convened an emergency security meeting shortly after the initial bombardment, said an "indiscriminate attack on civilians" could never be tolerated.

"Enormous retaliation should be made, to the extent that [North Korea] cannot make provocations again," he said.

The assault is one of the most serious in the decades since the war, given the involvement of civilians, although previous firefights around the disputed maritime border have resulted in a higher number of casualties.

In a short statement carried by the official KCNA news agency, the North said the South had fired first – presumably in reference to a live-fire drill being carried out as part of annual military exercises. It said it had repeatedly warned the South not to go ahead with the drill.

Analysts said that despite the seriousness of the clash, the situation was unlikely to escalate dramatically given the high stakes involved for all parties.

It comes amid growing international concern over reports that North Korea has a new uranium enrichment facility.

Lee ordered officials to "sternly respond" to North Korea's action but stressed that they had to make sure the "situation would not escalate," an aide said.

Yeonpyeong is only around 75 miles west of the South Korean capital.

Broadcasters showed smoke rising from houses in the attack, and Seoul's YTN television said residents had been evacuated to bunkers after firing broke out, at around 2.30pm. It is thought around 1,200 people live on the island.

Lee Chun-ok, a 54-year-old island resident, said she had been watching TV when she heard sounds of artillery, and a wall and door in her home suddenly collapsed.

"I thought I would die," said Lee, who had been evacuated to the port city of Incheon. "I was really, really terrified, and I'm still terrified."

The White House condemned the attack as "belligerent", adding: "The United States is firmly committed to the defence of our ally … and to the maintenance of regional peace and stability."

In London, William Hague urged Pyongyang to stop further "unprovoked" attacks.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said there was a "colossal danger" of escalation, Reuters reported. He added: "Those who started this bear a huge responsibility."

China, North Korea's main ally, steered clear of assigning blame. A foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, urged both sides to "do more to contribute to peace and stability in the region".

An unofficial spokesman for North Korea told the Guardian that firing artillery was a "totally justifiable act of self-defence" in response to the sea drills and warned that nuclear war could follow "at any point" unless the exercises stop. Pyongyang has repeatedly issued such threats in the past.

"If the South continues its dangerous behaviour, Seoul will be the next target. It will be a sea of fire," said Kim Myong-chol, executive director of the Centre for Korean-American Peace.

Han Seung-joo, a former South Korean foreign minister, said the "reckless and provocative" act suggested desperation on North Korea's part, and suggested it may be meant to send a message to a domestic audience rather than to the outside world, boosting solidarity and "show[ing] that they can get away with this".

Professor Chu Shulong, an expert on international security at Beijing's Tsinghua University, said it was too early to be sure what had happened.

But he added: "Over the years, North Korea has always been a place that likes to make trouble to get attention from the international community. After they get attention, they can start a new round of negotiations and get supplies from other countries. This is what they have been doing during the past 20 years."

The disputed maritime border has long been a source of friction and has seen repeated skirmishes – in some cases fatal – in recent years.

Relations between the two Koreas have remained especially tense since the South's Cheonan warship sank in March, killing 46 sailors. An international investigation led by Seoul blamed a North Korean torpedo but Pyongyang denies any involvement.


Smoke goes up from Yeonpyeong island after North Korea attacked the South Korean island near its border. Photograph: AP

Digital Twilight

Some miltary statistics here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11823474

polaris_x

there can be no winner in a war in the korean peninsula ... just as there has been no winner in iraq or afghanistan ...

as much as china loves the american consumer ... the relationship is mutual ... china will not allow a country like the US to control North Korea ... and they have lots of resources to prevent that ...

Cosmo

China is not going to let this happen... not as they have the economic momentum in their favor. They probably like South Korea more than North Korea bacause of their economic standing.
I say... let someone else be the world's goddamn police for a change.

Smellyman

I fly to Seoul tomorrow....:)

TriumphantAngel

StillHere wrote:

The White House said it "strongly condemns" the artillery attack on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong, and said it was firmly committed to the defence" of its military ally Seoul."

I think that's just about all we need to hear/read as to how this will effect us all.

China vs. USA?

Oh just lovely. :evil:

"strongly condemns". well the US has thrown that word around alot lately. it's all just talk. blah blah blah. like how they are deeply concerned and strongly condemn Israels refusal to halt with the settlement expansion. 'deeply concerned' blah blah blah blah blah. yet they do nothing about it.

everyone knows why they hate North Korea. the US is a joke. they turn a blind eye to the nuclear programs of its allies while taking issue with the rights to nuclear activities of other countries.

guess it's hard to be consistant though when you think you're king of the world and busy building your empire.

catefrances

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

^^

can you imagine all of those supposedly dignified and hardened world leaders locked in a room hugging and rubbing all over each other after taking ecstasy?

that would be a sight to see for sure...

*shudder*

thanks for that visual.

ajedigecko

unsung wrote:

ajedigecko wrote:

maybe the south will finally eliminate the northern dictator.....and unify the country at last.

Well, he has sons. Is this supposed to be Saddam Hussein part two?

i believe the sons will be eliminated, as well.

Commy

north korea.



maybe the only country on the planet outside the US empire and safe from US invasion.



because they have nukes.


quite the incentive really.

Commy

Byrnzie wrote:

We should find a way to gather all of the worlds leaders together in one field and give them some LSD or some ecstacy. That would solve the worlds problems overnight.

how much could kim jong use a bong hit about now?


or south koreas guy.


that would ease tensions

Commy

Smellyman wrote:

I fly to Seoul tomorrow....:)

good luck man.

Thoughts_Arrive

WW3?

Comment from a local news article....

Be very very afraid, China unlike any other is an industrialized nation, they have the means, man power and the finances to fuel a dangerous war quickly and sustain it for a long time. China like Nth Korea are Communists, China took a stand for the Nth during the last Korean War and will not hesistate to do it again. Australia is the sitting duck in all this we are a country that is very rich in Natural Resources and have the weakest and smallest Defense Force in South Asia except New Zealand we are allied to the Americans and our Politicians have wastefully spent our money on things instead of our Armed Forces and protecting our borders correct me if im wrong but i think we even have our army uniforms made in China.If we cant stop a boat load of refugees coming into our country imagine trying to stop the whole Bloody Red Army..this is very scary ..

Comment 156 of 176

Thoughts_Arrive

The only positive would be new season of M*A*S*H....

catefrances

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

WW3?

Comment from a local news article....

Be very very afraid, China unlike any other is an industrialized nation, they have the means, man power and the finances to fuel a dangerous war quickly and sustain it for a long time. China like Nth Korea are Communists, China took a stand for the Nth during the last Korean War and will not hesistate to do it again. Australia is the sitting duck in all this we are a country that is very rich in Natural Resources and have the weakest and smallest Defense Force in South Asia except New Zealand we are allied to the Americans and our Politicians have wastefully spent our money on things instead of our Armed Forces and protecting our borders correct me if im wrong but i think we even have our army uniforms made in China.If we cant stop a boat load of refugees coming into our country imagine trying to stop the whole Bloody Red Army..this is very scary ..

Comment 156 of 176

we dont have to have the strongest defense force... we have powerful friends. we have powerful friends with a vested interest in our security. scared of china???

Electric_Delta

In any event, South Korea needs to stand up for themselves. Otherwise, that sabre-rattling wacko in North Korea will continue to kill their people.

He's like the bully on the playground who thinks the other kids believe he's cool, when in reality they think he's a jerk.