The Truth About North Korea and South Korea

There is nothing that happens on the Korean peninsula that doesn't affect Japan. But we must always use a cool head and be patient when making judgements and not jumping to conclusions.


The reports earlier today were completely blaming North Korea for agressive actions and killing civilians for no apparent reason.


The Lookout on Yahoo reported:

Early Tuesday, North Korea fired artillery shells at the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, which sits off the disputed maritime border between the two countries. The attack killed two South Korean marines and wounded 18 soldiers and civilians.  It prompted an exchange of fire between the two sides, involving around 175 artillery shells and lasting about an hour.

The North accused South Korea of having started the exchange by firing shells inside North Korean territory during a set of South Korean military exercises that the North called "war maneuvers."  The South denies that charge, saying that its soldiers were merely conducting military drills and that no shots fell in North Korean territory.

This report makes North Korea out to look like it is completely in the wrong.

But, then, a few hours later, the story changes.

From Yahoo News: 

The skirmish began when North Korea warned the South to halt military drills near their sea border, according to South Korean officials. When Seoul refused and began firing artillery into disputed waters — but away from the North Korean shore — the North retaliated by shelling the small island of Yeonpyeong, which houses South Korean military installations and a small civilian population.

Seoul responded by unleashing its own barrage from K-9 155mm self-propelled howitzers and scrambling fighter jets. Two South Korean marines were killed in the shelling that also injured 15 troops and three civilians.

We know that North Korea is run by some very paranoid people. We know that Kim Jong Il is sick and about to be replaced by his son. It's a pretty safe guess that the son is willing to show that he cannot be pushed around easily.

So why does South Korea antagonizes these people?

It is easy to imagine that North Korea would get very upset about belligerent military maneuvers near their maritime border. Then after they demand a halt, they are ignored. What would be their response?

If they fired shells into the water, it might look like they were poor shots with poor equipment. I can see why they would fire on a military base.

I am not excusing North Korea at all. They are dangerous and not to be messed with. 

I think that if you are messing with a hornet's nest and they buzz by your head and warn you to stay away, you'd better to stay away. Why in the world would South Korea fire shells into North Korean waters? What could possibly be the purpose of that besides starting a war