Lest people think North Korea was bluffing, they’ve finally began their “physical response” to recent South Korea—US naval drills with a massive artillery barrage on the poor fish that live on their side of the NLL:
North Korea fired 110 artillery rounds at waters near a disputed western sea border with the South on Monday, escalating already high tensions after the sinking in March of a South Korean warship.
About 10 shells landed near Byeongryeong, a South Korean border island, followed by an additional 100 rounds falling near another border island, Yeonpyeong, said a spokesman of the Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul, who insisted on anonymity until there was a formal government announcement.
[...]
The spokesman said that all the shells fell just north of the so-called Northern Limit Line, or N.L.L., which both South Korea and the United States consider the only legitimate western sea border between the Koreas and have patrolled since the three-year Korean War ended in a cease-fire in 1953.
No word on how many innocent fish were killed.
Now, what’s interesting about this is that a couple of South Korean sources are claiming some of the shells fell on the southern side of the NLL:
But the South Korean national news agency Yonhap and SBS, a domestic television network, citing unidentified military sources, reported that some of the rounds crossed the line. The two South Korean islands, heavily populated by South Korean marines and fishermen, lie within the 17-mile range of North Korea’s coastline artillery.
I hope that 1) those reports are mistaken; and 2) if they are correct, a few South Korean artillery shells begin falling uncomfortably close in the waters just off North Korean artillery positions.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
This reminds me of Robert Graves’ excellent book “I, Claudius,” in which the Emperor Caligula attacks the English Channel (actually god Neptune) and wins!
Too bad that the attack may have never happened in real life. Yes, Caligula was insane, but not _that_ insane. Hmm? What does this tell about KJI and his sanity?
As to the artillery shells, better them falling in the ocean than on Chongno.
#1,
How did you get through the books. I’ve got them both and they are, in the only comparison that comes to mind, as readable as The Bridges of Madison County.
North Korea kills a tourist, South Korea does nothing
North Korea kills 46 sailors, South Korea does nothing,
North Korea kidnaps some fishermen, South Korea does nothing,
North Korea fires into the sea, South Korea does….
Why does everyone keep wondering what South Korea will do when it is obvious they will do nothing. If I was in the North, I would be wondering what I needed to do to get some kind of reaction. If I may be so bold, I suggest something along the lines of beating the South in some kind of sports event, skating is an obvious choice, but anything will do. However, to be really effective and to get a real response, North Korea must do it under the guise of another nation, as North Korea just does not strike the same fear and nationalistic emotions in South Koreans as say Australia or Canada.
Wow. This is seriously one of the stupidest things I have ever heard.
…North Korea kills 46 sailors, South Korea does nothing.
South Korea followed proper procedures through the correct channels. Russia and China made sure it did not come to anything.
thekorean,
Certainly hyperbole, but nothing stupid about it at all. Here’s what I saw on Korean university campuses:
U.S. tank incident: (2 dead) months of demos, candlelight vigils.
“Mad beef” scandal: (0 dead) weeks of demos, candlelight vigils.
Sinking of the Cheonan: (48 dead) a couple of banners expressing sorrow.
Hyperbole, but not stupidity.
Oh COME ON Gran. I would say the statement would be passable if it compared America’s capacity to stoke nationalistic fervor in Korea. But Australia or Canada, versus North Korea? I just can’t get over how stupid that is. In what world is that not stupid?
The Korean, to use America would have been too obvious, Koreans gets upset with Americans on an almost daily basis. I used Australia and Canada to show how Koreans can feel threatened by any foreign country, except North Korea, despite these countries doing nothing wrong. But of course, we can’t talk about anything bad in Korea without comparing it to those nasty yanks, so just for you, booo America, feel better? And to your question about what world that is not stupid in, well if I remember correctly, the Australian judge who made the incredible mistake of ruling against a korean for breaking the rules was hounded by korean netziens and the media, will these same people react just as passionately against this latest provocation by North Korea? Stupid? I certainly agree with you it is, but in what world is it not stupid, well it would seem the answer is here.
Scrambled brain is what happens when you get all your Korean news from expat blogs.
Of course, because the Korean media is reknowned for its honesty and transparency when it comes to reporting on national issues, plus I never said I got my news just from expat sites, but of course if its something bad about Korea then it has to come from a unreliable source. Besides, the haste at which you denounce everything I say as either me being stupid or simply stupid because I listen to other foreigners says way more about you than anything else. Maybe I should visit one of those blogs that invite people to ask questions, or would this be a waste of time as such blogs spew lies to scramble my brain? Or is it just expat sites that do this?
More like desperate moves by NK, they need to know more they’re acting like some lone gangster more they will lose credibility.
#2
Maybe I’m special in that way? I’m just a history buff who’s willing to read almost any historical novel or research book I can find. In my opinion, those Graves’ two books weren’t that bad.
If you like history like I do, may I recommend you a book written by Mika Waltari? “Sinuhe the Egyptian” is quite well written, although rather thick. My other favorites include books such as Eiji Yoshikawa’s “Musashi” and “Taiko.”
#12,
I’ve read Musashi several times (and have kept it) but didn’t know about those others that you’ve recommended. Thanks for the pointers.
OT/#13:
If you liked Musashi, I’m sure you’ll like Taiko as well. Taiko’s about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and I doubt that you can find it in Korea for obvious reasons. I bought my copy while I was holidaying in Singapore few years ago. Wish Seoul had as well stocked bookstores as S’pore has!
@ #3,
Because that is the most economically feasible option for South Korea. It’s doing well and not responding to empty threats by North Korea because it very well knows North Korea cannot win a conventional war (as it should be obvious to most people who keeps up with reality).
In addition, it’s deplorable that innocent fishes are going to waste. God knows how many poor North Korean folks it can feed. Looks like they rather starve and die. Talk about self-pwnage.
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