South Korea conducts planned military drill - Page 17

On December 22 2010 20:08 xBillehx wrote:After all, the two Koreas really are still at war.

North Korea is ready for a "sacred war of justice" using the nuclear deterrent, its armed forces minister has said.

Kim Yong-chun said exercises conducted by South Korea near the border were a preparation for war with the North.

The drill is one of the largest in South Korea's history, involving tanks, helicopters and fighter planes.

Tension has been high since North Korea shelled the South's Yeonpyeong island last month, killing four South Koreans.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has promised immediate retaliation to any further Northern attack.

The South Korean army acknowledged that the drill was aimed to display its firepower.

Although the South has conducted 47 military drills this year, this is the largest winter live-fire exercise ever conducted on land.
'Military provocation'

The North earlier branded Seoul's exercises "warmongering" but until now had not threatened the South with any retaliation.

During a meeting in the North Korean capital, Mr Kim, quoted by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency, accused the South of preparing for a new Korean War.

"The South Korean puppet forces perpetrated such grave military provocation as renewing their shelling against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] during their recent exercises for a war of aggression in the West Sea [Yellow Sea] of Korea," he said.

"This indicates that the enemy's scenario for aggression aimed at the start of another Korean War, has reached the phase of its implementation."

"The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are getting fully prepared to launch a sacred war of justice of Korean style based on the nuclear deterrent at anytime necessary to cope with the enemies' actions deliberately pushing the situation to the brink of a war," he added.

Both China and Russia have called on the South to defuse tensions and US officials too are privately expressing their concern about Seoul's new, more aggressive stance.

South Korea and the US had already been conducting large-scale military exercises, following the apparent torpedoing of a South Korean warship by the North on 26 March, which killed 46 south Korean sailors.

Efforts to redirect the Korean issue back to the negotiating table have been unsuccessful.

China and the North say it is time to return to the six-nation talks about North Korea's nuclear programmes.

But the US, South Korea and Japan have said they will not return to such talks, which have previously involved rewards for the North if it cuts back on nuclear development.

North Korea walked out of the six-party talks in April 2009 and expelled UN nuclear inspectors from the country.

On December 23 2010 21:33 Sawajiri wrote:
Seriously, I'm getting tired of SK's dick-wagging.

Yeah, you got the bigger one, we got it. Tuck 'em away, boys.

On a serious note, I really just don't think that this is a good idea right now. We called their bluff, and that was the right thing to do, and I supported our president's actions until then - but this just seems like taking it a step too far.

I just don't think dick-wagging is appropriate when tens of millions of citizens' lives depend on your actions.

On December 23 2010 22:05 SQUATZ wrote:
There will never be a full scale conflict.
Lots of strong words and warnings not to provoke.
Lots of military exercises and speculation about the strength and intentions of the North.
Lots of media sensationalism over playing minor issues because it sells.
But this will, never, ever turn into a full scale conflict.

We know this because we know that China wants no part of it, and without China's backing, NK can never take any action.
Everyone else knows this, and you can tell because the stock markets are stable.
If people truly thought that war was likely the markets would show it.

It won't stop the media from scaremongering though, because nobody wants to read that there is no real threat and that everything will be OK.

We know this because we know that China wants no part of it, and without China's backing, NK can never take any action.

except the millions living in s korea and the thousands that have friends/family there?
lol what a douchebag

The ironic thing is, as crazy as Kim Jung Il may be, as long as he is alive, there will be no full scale war.

Why is this even a discussion? Its obvious its all propaganda , keep people scared , make them fear for their life / homes and they will not even consider how bad they have it in north korea. Make the south look like the bad guys stops the temptation.

On December 23 2010 22:49 ch4ppi wrote:

Where is your argument for that conclusion?

On December 23 2010 22:15 HeavOnEarth wrote:
except the millions living in s korea and the thousands that have friends/family there?
lol what a douchebag

On December 23 2010 22:20 ch4ppi wrote:
Lol, so yeah because Kim is such an intelligent logical thinking leader...and no lunatic fanatic?