THE KOREAN peninsula remained in turmoil yesterday after this week’s artillery skirmish, with the North Koreans saying joint military exercises involving the US and South Korea had brought the two countries to “the brink of war”.
As the North Koreans seethed, the US flexed its military muscles in the region. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington has been dispatched to the Yellow Sea for military exercises with the South Korean navy, prompting an angry response from Pyongyang.
“The situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching closer to the brink of war due to the reckless plan of those trigger-happy elements to stage again war exercises targeted against the [North],” ran a dispatch carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the North’s official agency.
Four South Koreans – two marines and two civilians – were killed in the artillery assault on Yeonpyeong on Tuesday, North Korea’s heaviest bombardment since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an uneasy truce.
The islandwas quiet yesterday after most of the residents were evacuated to the mainland.
North Korean media said the country’s leader, Kim Jong-il, visited the artillery base which fired the shells shortly before the skirmish, and he was with his son and appointed heir, Kim Jong-un.
Many believe the attack is in some way related to the succession issue, as Mr Kim has to show to the North Korean military that he is capable of reacting in a tough manner to the war games in the Yellow Sea.
The South Koreans have been beefing up defences on Yeonpyeong and four other islands in the Yellow Sea after the attack, with reinforcements and high-grade weaponry for troops stationed there and rules of engagement that will allow them a more robust response if civilians come under attack.
President Lee Myung-bak has come under pressure in the South for not reacting in as firm a fashion as some would like. In response to criticisms that his government has shown indecision, he sacked his defence minister.
The four-day military manoeuvres were scheduled long before the attack, and have also been criticised by China, North Korea’s ally and neighbour.
“We have noted the relevant reports and express our concern about this,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Much of the focus is now on what role China will play in defusing tensions on the Korean peninsula, but other than expressing displeasure at the military drill, China’s reaction to the week’s events remained muted yesterday.
Mr Hong said the main focus should be to revive stalled six-party talks, featuring the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the US, aimed at defusing the North’s nuclear ambitions.
US president Barack Obama was expected to discuss the situation with Chinese president Hu Jintao within days, the White House said.
China has long been a key support for the Pyongyang leadership, because it fears that the collapse of North Korea could bring a stream of refugees across its borders or force it to pay to prop up the regime there. It also dislikes the idea of US troops on its borders in the event of Korea unifying.
