North Korea attacks South Korea

[AFJF]

South Korea

North Korea bombs South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island

North Korea has bombarded a South Korean island with artillery shells, injuring civilians and soldiers and setting more than 60 properties ablaze.

South Korea's Yeonpueong Island is engulfed in thick smoke after North Korean military launches artillery attack Photo: EPABy Peter Foster in Beijing 7:17AM GMT 23 Nov 2010

The attack, which comes days after it emerged that North Korea was pressing ahead with its illegal nuclear programme, marks a serious further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsular.

South Korea officials said dozens of rounds had landed on Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, 50 miles off the South’s northwest coast in an area close a disputed sea border. Other reports suggested as many as 200 shells were fired.

As South Korean forces returned fire, Civilians were evacuated to emergency bunkers, according witnesses quoted by the Seoul-based cable news television channel YTN. Fighter jets were scrambled and an emergency cabinet meeting was called in Seoul.

A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official, quoted anonymously by the Associated Press, said dozens of rounds of artillery landed on Yeonpyeong island and confirmed that South Korea had returned fire.

The islands were the scene of two skirmishes between the navies of North and South Korea in 1999 and 2002.

The attack comes after nearly two years of deteriorating relations between the two Koreas, which reached a nadir last March after the sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, with the loss of 46 lives.

South Korea has since cut off almost all humanitarian aid to the North, a near bankrupt-state that has been under tight international sanctions since conducting a second nuclear bomb test in 2009 in defiance of UN agreements.

The North has also been facing a degree of political turmoil this year as their ailing leader Kim Jong-il prepares the ground for a dynastic succession that will see power being handed to his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.

[The Crusher]

This thread is for information purposes only and sharing thoughts. If those thoughts become political then I will have to close this thread.

[Falcon63]

That's not good for us......as if we need another war...

[HessStation]

That's not good for us......as if we need another war...

If by us you mean humans then I agree.

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

People who think you deal with the neighborhood bully by sitting down, having community forums, and encouraging everyone to wear purple one day live in la la land. You deal with the neighborhood bully by beating the living piss out of him until he just doesn't want to be a bully anymore.

This is a classic example of what happens when wearing purple and having forums on the matter doesn't work over a period of decades as an international community.

North Korea is nothing but the neighborhood bully, except this bully was allowed to build a nuke.

I'll leave it at that and shut my mouth.

[Bob]

Sometimes, bullies have big, red brothers.

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

Sometimes, bullies have big, red brothers.

True. I miss the cold war, when we both kept our little brothers in check.

[Maxman]

South Korea

North Korea bombs South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island

North Korea has bombarded a South Korean island with artillery shells, injuring civilians and soldiers and setting more than 60 properties ablaze.

South Korea's Yeonpueong Island is engulfed in thick smoke after North Korean military launches artillery attack Photo: EPABy Peter Foster in Beijing 7:17AM GMT 23 Nov 2010

The attack, which comes days after it emerged that North Korea was pressing ahead with its illegal nuclear programme, marks a serious further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsular.

South Korea officials said dozens of rounds had landed on Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, 50 miles off the South’s northwest coast in an area close a disputed sea border. Other reports suggested as many as 200 shells were fired.

As South Korean forces returned fire, Civilians were evacuated to emergency bunkers, according witnesses quoted by the Seoul-based cable news television channel YTN. Fighter jets were scrambled and an emergency cabinet meeting was called in Seoul.

A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official, quoted anonymously by the Associated Press, said dozens of rounds of artillery landed on Yeonpyeong island and confirmed that South Korea had returned fire.

The islands were the scene of two skirmishes between the navies of North and South Korea in 1999 and 2002.

The attack comes after nearly two years of deteriorating relations between the two Koreas, which reached a nadir last March after the sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, with the loss of 46 lives.

South Korea has since cut off almost all humanitarian aid to the North, a near bankrupt-state that has been under tight international sanctions since conducting a second nuclear bomb test in 2009 in defiance of UN agreements.

The North has also been facing a degree of political turmoil this year as their ailing leader Kim Jong-il prepares the ground for a dynastic succession that will see power being handed to his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.

How much longer are you there for? Stay safe...

[New York Mick]

World War 5 here we come.

[The Crusher]

World War 5 here we come.

5? Man I gotta start paying attention

[New York Mick]

5? Man I gotta start paying attention

Oh no oh no that's the beauty of WW5 Crusher, it's so intense that it skips over the other two.

[The Crusher]

Oh no oh no that's the beauty of WW5 Crusher, it's so intense that it skips over the other two.

I hope this is the one with zombies. I really do.

[New York Mick]

I hope this is the one with zombies. I really do.

I have spoken!

[RutgersJetFan]

It's a desperation move. Nothing more, nothing less. And South Korea is highly unlikely to get duped in to an all-out war at this point because it doesn't need to, and there's no way that China and the US let it happen regardless. North Korea has been becoming more and more unstable by the year politically and economically. Il has named regents and heirs, but the reality is that none of them have adequate experience in arms or relations. The ship-sinking debacle in September caused internal political tensions to grow dramatically. Not to mention the food shortages and the fact that its currency has completely crashed. South Korea's per capita GDI is something like 15 times what the average North Korean makes, and North Koreans are learning this as the black market expands within the country. The country is going to collapse, and it's not even a matter of if at this point, it's just when.

The most important thing, at this point, is for China and the US to start taking preliminary action for the country's unification. We are, somewhat, to blame for this. Washington has been so focused on North Korean nuclear developments, that diplomatic assistance for South Korea has taken a backseat to trying to figure out exactly what Il's been up to. Zakaria spoke on the need for South Korea to avoid the unification problems that Germany underwent at the collapse of the wall, and South Korea couldn't have cared less. Sino-American relations are most certainly dependent on the outcome from a geopolitical standpoint though, big time.

[CTM]

This thread is for information purposes only and sharing thoughts. If those thoughts become political then I will have to close this thread.

my thoughts are that you are fat and toothless..

[Jets Voice of Reason]

I just hope the amount of bloodshed is limited. No one wins in that situation.

[JerryK]

The timing is weird for me...I made Bulgogi/Chap Chae and KimChi for supper last night. Only happens about 3x/yr.

I've always been a fan of 'things Korea'; It's really too bad they have to live with this split.

[The Crusher]

my thoughts are that you are fat and toothless..

Yeah I got this big by being toothless. Actually... I do likey ice cream. Point taken.

[T0mShane]

It's a desperation move. Nothing more, nothing less. And South Korea is highly unlikely to get duped in to an all-out war at this point because it doesn't need to, and there's no way that China and the US let it happen regardless. North Korea has been becoming more and more unstable by the year politically and economically. Il has named regents and heirs, but the reality is that none of them have adequate experience in arms or relations. The ship-sinking debacle in September caused internal political tensions to grow dramatically. Not to mention the food shortages and the fact that its currency has completely crashed. South Korea's per capita GDI is something like 15 times what the average North Korean makes, and North Koreans are learning this as the black market expands within the country. The country is going to collapse, and it's not even a matter of if at this point, it's just when.

The most important thing, at this point, is for China and the US to start taking preliminary action for the country's unification. We are, somewhat, to blame for this. Washington has been so focused on North Korean nuclear developments, that diplomatic assistance for South Korea has taken a backseat to trying to figure out exactly what Il's been up to. Zakaria spoke on the need for South Korea to avoid the unification problems that Germany underwent at the collapse of the wall, and South Korea couldn't have cared less. Sino-American relations are most certainly dependent on the outcome from a geopolitical standpoint though, big time.

Jesus. Excellent breakdown, D.

[AFJF]

How much longer are you there for? Stay safe...

I'm scheduled to leave in 22 days.

[RutgersJetFan]

I (hopefully) fly out in 22 days.

Best of luck to you dude. I assume you're at Kunsan or Osan?

[CTM]

I'm scheduled to leave in 22 days.

Get home safe.

[RutgersJetFan]

It's also worth noting that South Korea firing back on the rhetoric today is moronic. Further attacks and retaliation would not only destabilize the region but also extend Il's regime. A war is exactly what he needs. Obama needs to work some magic here and get China to pressure Pyongyang and also tell Lee to shut up.

[The Crusher]

I'm scheduled to leave in 22 days.

Safe return brother and thanx for your service.

[Garb]

I'm scheduled to leave in 22 days.

Thank you for your service and best of luck to you.

[AFJF]

Best of luck to you dude. I assume you're at Kunsan or Osan?

Yeah, doing my second tour at Osan. I was here back in 98/99 when the North and South had a skirmish with two naval vessels exchanging fire.

[AFJF]

Thanks for the comments guys. I have every intention of getting out of this place and on to my fiancee in England.

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

I agree with TomShane (Buy a lottery ticket fast!

Rutgers Nailed It

[New York Mick]

Yeah, doing my second tour at Osan. I was here back in 98/99 when the North and South had a skirmish with two naval vessels exchanging fire.

You're in the Air Force can't you just drop a nuke or something on them?

[Greenranger]

South Korea could tear the North apart on their own as long as China doesn't get involved. And I think if China stays out then we will stay out and vice-versa.

[Larz]

It's also worth noting that South Korea firing back on the rhetoric today is moronic. Further attacks and retaliation would not only destabilize the region but also extend Il's regime. A war is exactly what he needs. Obama needs to work some magic here and get China to pressure Pyongyang and also tell Lee to shut up.

the playground effect is in play here tho. you get pushed on the playgrund, you have to do something

I think they know that they are being baited into a fight, and I expect a response to be a combination of military, economic and political.

wouldn't surprise me if they go for his nuke facilities

the conspiracy thoerist in me wonders if there are bigger plans in place here

[RutgersJetFan]

the playground effect is in play here tho. you get pushed on the playgrund, you have to do something

Not if you already know that the kid who just pushed you is about 10 seconds away from collapsing of a heart attack.

the conspiracy thoerist in me wonders if there are bigger plans in place here

Of course there is. Food shortages are at an all-time high. People are starving and their families are being tortured for the person(s) they're likely related to who've fled to China or South Korea for work and/or freedom. The way you take a population's attention, which is at a boiling point right now, away from such instances, is a war.

[Larz]

Not if you already know that the kid who just pushed you is about 10 seconds away from collapsing of a heart attack.

Of course there is. Food shortages are at an all-time high. People are starving and their families are being tortured for the person(s) they're likely related to who've fled to China or South Korea for work and/or freedom. The way you take a population's attention, which is at a boiling point right now, away from such instances, is a war.

hasn't that been the case for decades ? do you think the worry is the heir won't be able to stay in power once Il drops dead ?

[Song of Ice and Fire]

It's also worth noting that South Korea firing back on the rhetoric today is moronic. Further attacks and retaliation would not only destabilize the region but also extend Il's regime. A war is exactly what he needs. Obama needs to work some magic here and get China to pressure Pyongyang and also tell Lee to shut up.

That'll never happen

I say they just send in the Military. I'm off to Kuwait next summer... I'd rather be somewhere with some action lulz

[Greenranger]

hasn't that been the case for decades ? do you think the worry is the heir won't be able to stay in power once Il drops dead ?

They acted like this around the time Kim Jong Ill was taking power in the early 90's too. But this time is different. Kim Jong Ill was groomed for many years to run the Country when his Father died in 1994. His son has been the successor for about a month. Kim is in bad shape, most likely near death, and his son is not ready to inherit a Country with food-shortages, trade embargoes, a dead economy, a population that is deformed from years of malnourishment, and a military that consists of old out-dated Soviet equipment. This was a panic move by a paranoid Country trying to say "don't mess with us", and I don't think it worked.