North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island is worst against civilians in 20 years

[Davey]

A South Korean soldier was killed and 13 others injured after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island setting more than 60 houses ablaze and sending civilians fleeing in terror.

But today's violence, which saw dozens of shells rain down on their homes and set more than 60 buildings on fire, is the most serious act of aggression against civilians from Pyongyang since the bombing of Korean Air flight 858 in 1987. It was the first artillery strike on South Korean soil since 1953.

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How will this turn out? For Korea, but also for Japan and the whole region? Will something happen, or as always will N-Korea just receive sanctions and it will start over and over again?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I believe it will be same old, same old, for a while. North Korea is a stupid country but i don't think its so stupid that it will go to great enough efforts to properly re-vitalise the war between the two. I think this is just another (ultimately pointless) aggressive act.

Pictures from the incident;

In pictures: Korean shelling

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Without China's protection and financial help.....

North Korea would not exist now. One of these days, China will decide it's not in their best interest to be a friend to NK, and we can deal with them for good.

Uncle Frank

☝

 

[Astroboy]

Utter desperation of North Korea ... probably many people in the country will die of starvation in the coming winter season.

 

[caster51]

Btw when do Taiwan and S-korea start war?

 

[Hezam]

That jerk Kim Jong-il is digging up his grave...
I hope everything end safely this time...

 

[Adulado]

Btw when do Taiwan and S-korea start war?

so that tiwan becomes Korean?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

North Korea & South Korea have technically never stopped being at war with each other since the Korean war that divided the land into two. Taking potshots at each is a pretty normal & regular affair for the 2 countries- only difference is that this is unusually violent/aggressive this time. But as this sort of stuff always happens and has happened on this scale before, and considering nothing as ever come long term of it i doubt anything will this time.

probably many people in the country will die of starvation in the coming winter season.

Hows that different from usual?

North Korea would not exist now. One of these days, China will decide it's not in their best interest to be a friend to NK, and we can deal with them for good.
Uncle Frank
☝

China is pretty blasé about N.Korea. They're only allies on paper. But i'm sure China would be happier to keep N.Korea as its ally than to change under pressure from other countries. IMO only if there is a great finanical economical bonus to cutting ties with N.Korea then China will ditch it- but we're far too reliant on Chinese products to use this against it. It wouldn't benefit us. The financial incentive will have to come about through N.Korea's stupid actions only.

"Deal with them for good" though? What do you mean specifically- like invade the country or something? We can't afford anymore wars. As much as the N.Korean people would probably (long term) benefit from being released from their leader more than any other similar country, all recent wars boil down to money and unless it was discovered that N.Korea was brimming with natural resources then i doubt that our current politicians will bother much about the country as long as its actions don't affect us too much.

As much as politicians go on & on about the worlds sufferings and moral causes etc, at the end of the day money makes the world go round and money will always be the biggest concern of any politician. IMO from the politicians point of view the biggest failures of the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq has not been the imense loss of life or the destruction of the countries etc, but the burgeoning unprofitable costs of the wars.

 

[Astroboy]

Hows that different from usual?

You are right ! No difference.

 

[bakaKanadajin]

North Korea wants attention, that's it that's all.

bwaahhh *cry cry cry* give us more food or we'll make trouble bwaahhh

They're building reactors because they're told not to.
Gives them a bargaining chip. Same with the conventional attacks on SK, more attention grabbing. Ultimately they'd like to have nukes, first as a deterrent against the South but more so to sell the technology and make money at it.

The leaders all know that actually using the nukes would mean the end of the party for them.

Astroboy makes a good point - winter is coming maybe they want more food.
Or maybe papa is showing sonny how to do things since he'll pass away soon.

Who knows.


But I agree with Uncle Frank. Tie four rockets to each corner of Kim Jong's family home and fire all those nutbars into space.

 

[4321go]

Hello Kitty!

This is what we called "peaceful world"

It won't go any worse~ Asian Games started~

 

[4321go]

What is more~ Seoul (the capital of Korea) will under attack if the war break out~

Seoul (the capital of Korea) ,only 50KM away from the borderline (conflict areas)~:____

 

[Astroboy]

What is more~ Seoul (the capital of Korea) will under attack if the war break out~
Seoul (the capital of Korea) ,only 50KM away from the borderline (conflict areas)~:____

I suggest China to diploy People's Liberalization Army to North Korea to Liberalize North Korean people and arrest Dear Leader's family.

 

[4321go]

I suggest China to diploy People's Liberalization Army to North Korea to Liberalize North Korean people and arrest Dear Leader's family.

Hello~~~ Old friend on jref!!

Let the America Team do that ~~

"Team America: World Police," who attempt to save the world from a violent terrorist plot led by Kim Jong-il.

 

[Hezam]

bwaahhh *cry cry cry* give us more food or we'll make trouble bwaahhh

Lol,this is the same thing the Yemeni government does to Saudi Arabia

 

[Elizabeth]

China only cares about NK to the extent it is essentially in eroding the U.S. position in Asia. U.S. failure to do anything about NK could weaken our credibility, and with it American alliances, over the longer term.

So the joint U.S/South Korea military exercise scheduled to commence later this week that China has protested so vociferously is a very happy coincidence. And if these recent provocations are an attempt by NK to force the West into restarting 6 Party talks the Kim regime has not supported previously, we need to wait them out while rigorously enforcing existing sanctions and at all cost not giving in to short-term concessions. The hope would be that this unhappy situation progresses to the point the DPRK is ready to deal with a seriousness of purpose in exchange for survival. At least when the ball is in their court, time not on their side.

Another thing that would significantly alter the landscape here would be having Japan and/or SK begin moving towards becoming a nuclear power themselves, and having the US go along. China does not want, under any conditions, for Japan to become a nuclear power. But bilaterial negotiations in the last 2 years of the Bush administration have resulted in an apparent freeze of the NK plutonium program, so I'm also in favor of those continuing in some form. NK is fortunately nowhere near the capability of a deployable uranium warhead or missile.

 

[Elizabeth]

North Korea would not exist now. One of these days, China will decide it's not in their best interest to be a friend to NK, and we can deal with them for good.
Uncle Frank
☝

When they decide that, there won't be a NK. What they should do is hold back humanitarian aid and investment, which has been increasing, to encourage the re-start of negotiations between the US and North Korea. Most of North Korea's trade is with China, most of its oil supply comes from there, and virtually the only foreign companies in North Korea are Chinese. Dealing with refugees, a possibly Unified Korea, strategic imbalances, etc. might be awkward, and even costly, but as a reason for tolerating a disastrous military adventure that would totally decimate the Chinese economy it is simply not credible.


BTW, South Korea will probably strike a missile base if there are indications of any further provocation. But a pre-emptive strike to try and remove North Korea's nuclear arsenal I think is impossible because they would not be able to remove all of North Korea's missiles at the same time. The end result would be a full scale nuclear war.


I rather like this suggestion: we tell the Chinese that we are planing to "loan" nuclear weapons to South Korea (and Japan, if the want to be on board), with targeting pre-programmed and controlled by the US to North Korean targets only (for defense!), unless they take action.

 

[Navy Guy]

Unfortunately (especially for me) this is most likely going to escelate (sp?) before things calm down. Uncle Kim is teaching his heir appearent political moves that NKorea has used many times over. I am just hoping that since China does have the ear of NKorea that they can do some damage control and put Kim jong Il and Um back into their place. Hopefully daddy passes away soon and his son will be more reasonable with the rest of the world... other wise I fear my employment will be needed.



Who says we don't already have deterent material in theater?☝

 

[Tokugawa Ieyasu]

I suggest China to diploy People's Liberalization Army to North Korea to Liberalize North Korean people and arrest Dear Leader's family.

Pyongyang is too useful a proxy for Beijing for that to happen........

 

[Tokugawa Ieyasu]

Another thing that would significantly alter the landscape here would be having Japan and/or SK begin moving towards becoming a nuclear power themselves, and having the US go along. China does not want, under any conditions, for Japan to become a nuclear power.

You are correct that China does not want to see a nuclear-powered Japan under any circumstances. But there's also article 9 of Japan's own post-war constitution -- forever renouncing war as a sovereign right.

Japan becoming a nuclear power would be unconstitutional.

 

[Elizabeth]

You are correct that China does not want to see a nuclear-powered Japan under any circumstances. But there's also article 9 of Japan's own post-war constitution -- forever renouncing war as a sovereign right.
Japan becoming a nuclear power would be unconstitutional.

The Peace Constitution doesn't ban acquisition of nuclear weapons, but public opinion is still strongly supportive of disarmament measures. There has been speculation the country even possesses them already.

 

[Navy Guy]

And while it does ban "war" it does not ban police actions, self defense, or supporting a war... although the Japanese senate had a major tiff over wether to send refueling ships to refuel coalition ships in the gulf about 4 years ago...

Also why would they need to aquire them when there are already nuclear capable ships from an ally country residing in their ports?

 

[4321go]

The title "...against civilians ..."

Provoked by South korea ... Could say :"South korea against civilians ?"

The running dog...

 

[noyhauser]

And while it does ban "war" it does not ban police actions, self defense, or supporting a war... although the Japanese senate had a major tiff over wether to send refueling ships to refuel coalition ships in the gulf about 4 years ago...
Also why would they need to aquire them when there are already nuclear capable ships from an ally country residing in their ports?

Sorry was this an actual question or was it in jest?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Most service people stationed in Japan.....

even way back in the early 70's , knew we had ships and planes in Japan with nuke capability. I have no doubt today that we have many nukes in the Asian area , including Japan.

Uncle Frank