I would not take it for granted that North Korea is the aggressor.

[howard112211]

Despite what the US government and western media are saying.

[Richardo]

1. Yeah, they've never shown any signs of irrational hostility before this

:eyes:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. then you haven't been paying attention to the last 50 years or so...

[KharmaTrain]

3. Depends On How You Define "Agressor"

I prefer to call these provocations...and has been a regular pattern in that region. Recently it was disclosed that the North was refining nuclear fuel (not really a big surprise) but there was a bunch of international scrutiny about this and then here's an incident. This has happened in the past which usually ends up in some protracted multi-party negotiations that result in the North getting some kind of money or other aid. It's truly a game of Chinese Checkers.

That border is one of the most militarized in the world...someone sneezing the wrong way can set off an incident. This has been a 60 plus year war of attrition where both sides try to take advantage of the other...the South waging economic war while the North threatens with thousands of missiles placed within easy striking distance of Seoul and large population centers.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Killing a couple of people is aggressive, wouldn't you say?

And injuring 19 more? Dozens of houses damaged?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11818005

[KharmaTrain]

8. Economic Agression Kills As Well

Pick your poison...neither is right. I'll wait to learn more about this incident to make any judgement but it's been a pattern in this region of such provocations that end up in some payoff for the Pyongyang leadership to maintain the "status quo". When their economic situation gets bad or there's some other sort of political instability, the North has created these incidents to divert attention. Unfortunately the people living on both sides of this tragic divide are the victims.

[HereSince1628]

4. It's a distinction which makes no difference

If hostilities become generalized. The US is committed in S Korea. Very little will change that.

[The_Commonist]

5. South Korea "started it" by having exercises in the area.

North Korea used that as an excuse to get all shooty...

[Ozymanithrax]

6. It takes at least twice that many Artillery shells and burned villages...

to be an aggressor.

[Rebubula]

9. Blinders...

...are not just for horses, it would seem.

Skepticism is healthy when used intelligently.

[grahamhgreen]

10. Is NK denying it?

[BoneDaddy]

11. Not everything the media says is a lie

this is the biggest mistake of most liberals from what I have seen.

[Javaman]

12. loves me some good hit and run posts. nt

[era veteran]

13. I would

Where does your world view originate from? They have always started shit. There are dead Americans in country since the 'end' of hostilities. I served with a SP/5 wounded walking border in the '70's.
18 August 1976: The Axe Murder Incident results in the death of two U.S. soldiers and injuries to another four U.S. soldiers and five South Korean soldiers. The incident may not be technically considered an "infiltration" however, as it took place in a neutral zone of the Joint Security Area.



THE REST
October 1966 - October 1969: Korean DMZ Conflict (1966-1969), a series of skirmishes along the DMZ results in 43 U.S., 299 South Korean and 397 North Korean soldiers killed<9>
17 January 1968: 31 North Korean commandos crossed the border disguised as South Korean soldiers in an attempt to assassinate President Park Chung Hee at the Blue House. The failed mission resulted in 29 commandos killed (one committed suicide) and the other two captured. Two South Korean policemen and five civilians were killed by the commandos. Other reports indicated as many as 68 South Koreans killed and 66 wounded, including about 24 civilians. Three Americans were killed and another three wounded in an attempt to prevent the commandos from escaping back via the DMZ.<10>
October 1968: 130 North Korean commandos entered the Ulchin and Samcheok areas in Gangwon-do. Eventually 110 of them were killed, 7 were captured and 13 escaped.
March 1969: Six North Korean infiltrators crossed the border near Chumunjin, Gangwon-do and killed a South Korean policeman on guard duty.
April 1970: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed and five South Korean soldiers wounded at an encounter in Kumchon, Gyeonggi-do.
20 November 1974: The first of what would be a series of North Korean infiltration tunnels under the DMZ was discovered. The joint ROK-U.S. investigation team tripped a North Korean booby-trap killing one American and wounding 6 others.


Operation Paul Bunyan, to remove a tree in front of the Bridge of No Return, takes place following the Axe Murder Incident in August 1976.
March 1975: The second North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered.
June 1976: Three North Korean infiltrators and six South Korean soldiers were killed in the eastern sector south of the DMZ. Another six South Korean soldiers were injured.
18 August 1976: The Axe Murder Incident results in the death of two U.S. soldiers and injuries to another four U.S. soldiers and five South Korean soldiers. The incident may not be technically considered an "infiltration" however, as it took place in a neutral zone of the Joint Security Area.
14 July 1977: American CH-47 Chinook helicopter is shot down after straying into the north over the DMZ. Three airmen are killed and one is briefly held prisoner (This is the sixth such incident since the Armistice was signed.)<11>
October 1978: The third North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered.
October 1979: Three North Korean agents attempting to infiltrate the eastern sector of the DMZ were intercepted, killing one of the agents.
6 December 1979: US patrol in the DMZ accidentally crosses the MDL into a North Korean minefield. One US soldier is killed and four are injured.<12>
March 1980: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed attempting to enter the south across the estuary of the Han River.
March 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators spotted at Kumhwa, Gangwon-do, one was killed.
July 1981: Three North Korean infiltrators were killed in the upper stream of Imjin River.
May 1982: Two North Korean infiltrators were spotted on the east coast, one was killed.
March 1990: The fourth North Korean infiltration tunnel was discovered, in what may be a total of 17 tunnels in all.
May 1992: Three North Korean infiltrators dressed in South Korean uniforms were killed at Cheorwon, Gangwon-do. Three South Koreans were also wounded.
December 17, 1994: American OH-58A+ helicopter crosses 10 km into North Korean territory and is shot down.<12>
October 1995: Two North Korean infiltrators were intercepted at Imjin River. One was killed, the other escaped.
April 1996: Several hundred North Korean armed troops entered the Joint Security Area and elsewhere on three occasions in violation of the Korean armistice agreement.
May 1996: Seven North Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ but withdrew when fired upon by South Korean troops.
April 1997: Five North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line's Cheorwon sector and fired at South Korean positions.
July 1997: Fourteen North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL, causing a 23-minute exchange of heavy gunfire.
October 26, 2000: Two US aircraft observing a ROK army military exercise accidentally cross over the DMZ.<12>
May 26, 2006: Two North Korean soldiers entered the DMZ and crossed into South Korea. They returned after South Korean soldiers fired warning shots.
October 7, 2006: South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed briefly into their side of the border.
October 27, 2009: A South Korean pig farmer, who was wanted for assault, cut a hole in the DMZ fence and defected to North Korea.<13>
October 29, 2010: Two shots were shot from North Korea towards a South Korean post near Hwacheon and South Korean troops fired three shots in return.<14>