NorthernSanctuary
05-28-2009, 11:44 AM
http://www.watoday.com.au/world/north-korea-says-truce-is-over-20090528-bo51.html
John Garnaut, Beijing
May 27, 2009
North Korea has promised "unimaginable, merciless punishment" against those who have provoked it, after the world condemned its testing of a nuclear bomb.
Analysts in Seoul say the dramatic escalation could lead to "skirmishes" along the 38th parallel in coming weeks.
The North is particularly upset that South Korea, under the conservative President Lee Myung-bak, responded to Monday's underground blast by joining a US-led nuclear non-proliferation security initiative to intercept vessels suspected of carrying banned materials.
Pyongyang said it would abandon the truce that ended the devastating Korean War in 1953. "Those who have provoked us will face unimaginable, merciless punishment," the official Korean Central News Agency said.
"Any tiny hostile acts against our republic, including the stopping and searching of our peaceful vessels … will face an immediate and strong military strike in response."
Most North Korea-watchers say the recent belligerency reflects a domestic political transition, with the military in the ascendancy and ailing dictator Kim Jong-il positioning to ensure one of his sons succeeds him.
Analysts in Seoul, who are well within range of the short-range missiles tested by the North each day this week, said the rhetoric should not be dismissed.
"They're damn serious," Choi Jong Kun, professor of political science at Yonsei University in Seoul, said. He said the North had long warned that if South Korea joined the non-proliferation initiative, they would take it as a declaration of war.
But Professor Choi said an exchange of fire across the border would not lead to war.
"War is inconceivable because we know and they know that we will win, albeit with a lot of damage," he said.
The world is at a loss with how to respond to North Korea. Even its traditional ally China is divided, with some analysts venting frustration at years of moderate diplomacy.
Sun Zhe, the director of the Sino-US Relations Institute of Tsinghua University, told the Global Times newspaper that the Chinese Government should teach the North Korea a lesson.
"There is no need for China to maintain its past policy toward its trouble-making neighbour any longer," he said.
So far, Chinese officials have appeared to favour coaxing North Korea back to the six-party talks rather than supporting strong actions that might push its renegade ally to the brink of collapse.
The Sydney Morning Herald
John Garnaut, Beijing
May 27, 2009
North Korea has promised "unimaginable, merciless punishment" against those who have provoked it, after the world condemned its testing of a nuclear bomb.
Analysts in Seoul say the dramatic escalation could lead to "skirmishes" along the 38th parallel in coming weeks.
The North is particularly upset that South Korea, under the conservative President Lee Myung-bak, responded to Monday's underground blast by joining a US-led nuclear non-proliferation security initiative to intercept vessels suspected of carrying banned materials.
Pyongyang said it would abandon the truce that ended the devastating Korean War in 1953. "Those who have provoked us will face unimaginable, merciless punishment," the official Korean Central News Agency said.
"Any tiny hostile acts against our republic, including the stopping and searching of our peaceful vessels … will face an immediate and strong military strike in response."
Most North Korea-watchers say the recent belligerency reflects a domestic political transition, with the military in the ascendancy and ailing dictator Kim Jong-il positioning to ensure one of his sons succeeds him.
Analysts in Seoul, who are well within range of the short-range missiles tested by the North each day this week, said the rhetoric should not be dismissed.
"They're damn serious," Choi Jong Kun, professor of political science at Yonsei University in Seoul, said. He said the North had long warned that if South Korea joined the non-proliferation initiative, they would take it as a declaration of war.
But Professor Choi said an exchange of fire across the border would not lead to war.
"War is inconceivable because we know and they know that we will win, albeit with a lot of damage," he said.
The world is at a loss with how to respond to North Korea. Even its traditional ally China is divided, with some analysts venting frustration at years of moderate diplomacy.
Sun Zhe, the director of the Sino-US Relations Institute of Tsinghua University, told the Global Times newspaper that the Chinese Government should teach the North Korea a lesson.
"There is no need for China to maintain its past policy toward its trouble-making neighbour any longer," he said.
So far, Chinese officials have appeared to favour coaxing North Korea back to the six-party talks rather than supporting strong actions that might push its renegade ally to the brink of collapse.
The Sydney Morning Herald