US and South Korea push ahead with war games

[Tuesday Afternoon]

By DAVID GUTTENFELDER and KIM KWANG-TAE, Associated Press David Guttenfelder And Kim Kwang-tae, Associated Press

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – The United States and South Korea prepared for war games Sunday as South Koreans demanded vengeance over a deadly North Korean artillery bombardment that has raised fears of more clashes between the bitter rivals.

The North, meanwhile, worked to justify one of the worst attacks on South Korean territory since the 1950-53 Korean War. Four South Koreans, including two civilians, died after the North rained artillery on the small Yellow Sea island of Yeonpyeong, which is home to both fishing communities and military bases.

North Korea said civilians were used as a "human shield" around artillery positions and lashed out at what it called a "propaganda campaign" against Pyongyang.

It claimed the United States orchestrated last Tuesday's clash so that it could stage joint naval exercises in the Yellow Sea with the South that include a U.S. nuclear powered supercarrier — enraging the North and making neighboring China uneasy.


more at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101127/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_clash

[KharmaTrain]

1. Waiting For the NK Shakedown...

Those who are predicting a new Korean war...ain't gonna happen. The South doesn't want it and the North can't afford it. This isn't 1950 where the Chinese are standing ready over the Yalu River to help out Pyongyang nor is there a Soviet Union to fund it. China and South Korea are close trading partners not to mention the Japanese influence. The North Koreans also rely upon the South for a good chunk of change as well.

Methinks this incident are itchy trigger fingers in an area that has long been disputed excelerated by the recent leadership changes going on in the North. These incidents tend to occur when Pyongyang wants to divert attention from its own problems...or bad PR (such as the revelation they're making nuclear fuel...what a surprise...not) and ends up with some kind of deal between the North and South for money or goods.

No question, the South & US are probing to see the North's temperature. This is a constant game of chicken that results in these incidents when the North reacts. However, the North for all its weaponry and men in arms is no match against a very strong South Korean military and any war would drain already taxed resources. Sabre rattling continues to work...tensions settle down until the next time the North needs a diversion.

Cheers...