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Artillery round across sea border after visit by North`s officials

Artillery round across sea border after visit by North`s officials

Posted October. 08, 2014 04:22,   

한국어

A North Korean military patrol boat violated waters about 900 meters south of the Northern Limit Line near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea to cause a skirmish between the navies of the two Koreas in five years since November 2009. The North’s patrol boat fired dozens of machine gun shots at a South Korean patrol killer guided (PKG) missile speed boat, which issued warning messages and fired warning shots, and the South Korean Navy also responded with more than 90 shots. Neither side suffered any damage, but it constitutes a serious provocation by the North that spells cold water to thawing mood for inter-Korean dialogue that has been created for the first time in many years. The Seoul government should sternly raise issue against the North and hold it accountable for this incident, which occurred only three days after three high-powered North Korean officials including Hwang Pyong So, head of the general politburo of the North Korean People’s Army, visited Incheon to attend the closing ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games on Saturday.

When meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, North Korea`s presumptive No. 2 Hwang said, “We have created a narrow trail this time. Let’s create a wide main street going forward.” The remarks were interpreted as North Korean military’s support of improving inter-Korean ties, but the latest provocation makes us doubt the sincerity of his remarks. Coincidently, the day Hwang visited Incheon was the seventh anniversary of the Oct. 4 joint statement by then President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, which entailed Roh’s controversial remarks over the South’s alleged giving up of the NLL, the de-facto inter-Korean maritime border. Chances are high that Pyongyang, which has ceaselessly attempted to nullify the NLL, has sought to test the response of the South Korean military and the government in a phase of dialogue after proposing a second high-level dialogue.

In its briefing material for parliamentary audit of the government, the South Korean Defense Ministry said, “After declaring 2015 as the year to complete war of unification, North Korea is preparing for a full-blown war through practical military drills for all different military units and reinforcement of combat capability.” The rumor that Kim Jong Un held a meeting of military commanders and instructed them to thoroughly prepare for a war of unification after announcing his intent to improve inter-Korean relations in his New Year’s speech, appears to have some ground after all. The North has significantly increased military drills including firing of short-range missiles on 20 occasions, and launching of 269 rockets this year. It has also repeatedly declared that it will never give up its nuclear weapons. This is the reason South Korea cannot afford to positively interpret the North’s gestures for dialogue.

Analysts in South Korea and overseas have made diverse analyses about the background and motive behind high-powered North Korean leaders’ surprise visit to the South, but Pyongyang itself has not made any single comment on the issue. North Korean media outlets have also remained silent about high-level contacts, while only highlighting North Korean athletes’ good performance at the Asian Games. Under this circumstance, even if inter-Korean talks take place anew, it is uncertain whether Pyongyang will present a positive card that would accelerate reconciliatory mood. When it comes to North Korea, South Korea should always make judgment based on its acts rather than words to the end. The higher the expectation the South has over improving inter-Korean relations, the more thoroughly prepared it should be in the aspect of security.