Home Scandal and Gossip The world braces itself as North and South Korea exchange volley of...

The world braces itself as North and South Korea exchange volley of missiles.

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Is it really a cry just for help or something more?

With North Korea’s economic conditions increasingly deteriotating and the US unwilling to come to the bargaining table unless North Korea shelves it nuclear program North Korea has enacted a volley of missiles into South Korea hoping for one to possibly bring new attention to itself and importantly remind the West that its still a power to be reckoned with or else…

UK Telegraph: The Pyongyang regime fired 50 heavy artillery shells on to an island off South Korea’s northwest coast, killing two marines, injuring 17 and three civilians, and setting the homes of 60 civilians on fire.

The South responded by firing 80 shells back into North Korea and scrambling F-16 fighter jets to protect its airspace.

In a day of rising tensions, South Korea said that its troops would safeguard its territory with “stern responses” if the Pyongyang launched any further attacks. However, it said would not “escalate” the conflict on the Peninsula.

Not escalate the tensions unless it sees how far North Korea continues, whether it’s bluff (the preferred outcome) is called and importantly to see how far the US will go this time into appeasing North Korea which seemingly wants to have access to nuclear arms but the resources to sustain itself that it is unable to secure. Classic behavior of strong arm antics.

The US, which has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea, last night said it had moved no additional personnel or equipment to the area as a result of the attack and that it was “premature” to say whether there would be a response or increase its deterrent there.

Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said the administration was in close and continuing contact. “The United States is firmly committed to the defence of our ally, the Republic of Korea, and to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.”

In other words the US is committed to maintaining the status quo and getting what it can in conjunction with South Korea as the North has over 50 years been increasingly stymied and Russia been unable to offer the same depth of commitment as in past years.

Analysts said that the artillery attack, which came eight months after the North had torpedoed a South Korean warship killing 46 sailors, was yet another calculated attempt by the regime to exploit divisions and extract concessions from the international community. It is keen to resume six party talks with South Korea, Japan, the US, Russia and China to secure a generous aid package in return for concessions over it’s nuclear weapons programme.

It also comes as the ailing North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, seeks to reassure the country as his son Kim Jong-un prepares to take over.

At present the West can only lightly tread as the stalemate condition plays out, but one thing is for certain, North Korea is feeling the pangs of desire and restraint and is willing to play Washington’s bluff – of course the question is will Washington play into it or will concessions be made? Either way, equity markets across the globe tanked, a side effect that hasn’t been overlooked by both North Korea or the US for that matter. Happy hunting or endgame…



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4 COMMENTS

  1. The North therefore has three major interlocutors who are fixed quantities. SK, Japan, and the US are all willing to show force as a deterrent but would prefer to buy peace. It has another, China, which like South Korea and Japan stands to get a lot of grief if the regime goes under, but is far less committed than South Korea. Therefore, China is the swing factor. They’re involved but nowhere near as much as other Koreans ar

  2. While in the broadest sense I suppose artillery shells are a kind of missile, It seems a bit misleading to use the word in the title of this article, when for military purposes bullets or artillery shells are generally separated from self-propelled missiles.

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