Tuesday, November 23, 2010

North Korea

North Korean soldiers fired 200 rounds of artillery shells at a military base on the South Koraean island of Yeonpyeong. Two South Korean soldiers died from the artillery shells while 15 were injured. After the shooting it is estimated that around 1,600 residents of the island are either getting off the island or moving to local bomb shelters which gives you an idea of the kind of conflict that might be breaking out. The people of South Korea feel something much bigger will erupt from this incident and it will be involving Yeonpyeong. The Yeonpyeong island has always been disputed between North and South Korea and I feel that the North Korean government is tired of arguing over it. This incident is what I believe is North Korea's declaration of anger and frustration towards South Korea and that they will no longer take no for an answer. A fight will definitely erupt but whether it’s military or political is up to what happens in the coming days.
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5 comments:

  1. BarrettNovember 24, 2010 at 7:35 AM

    I disagree with you in terms of this being a decalaration of war; rather I think this was meant to be a test to see how far North Korea could antaganise the South sort like how Hitler did back in WWII.

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  2. Momin AmjadNovember 24, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Momin AmjadNovember 24, 2010 at 3:57 PM

    A new interpretation Zack, that is very interesting. I never thought that the event could carry such weight to erupt a 'fight' but it seems reasonable. I considered it as a warning/threat from the North to the South to remain hostile, which was the cause of the firing. Good thinking.

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  4. AndreaNovember 24, 2010 at 6:29 PM

    I agree that this action has the potential to errupt into WW3. Greatn evidence with precedent.

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  5. CharlesNovember 24, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    Zach, interesting opinion. Personally, I believe that we are over-dramatizing the conflict. For example, 100 rounds were fired, not 200. Next, the 1600 residents were either temporarily evacuated to shelters or suffered an electrical black-out. Hardly a mass stampede to leave. Lastly, the two navies have fought recently in 1999, 2002, and 2009. And every time, people feared nuclear war. Yet we are still here. The South fears confrontation and happily uses the Americans to prove a point. The North Koreans love to show their teeth, yet are equally as scared. Only when China supports North Korea, which it hasn't this go 'round, will there be something to fear. This is only theoretical though- China will never do this. There is far much more to gain economically and to prove ideologically through peace.

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