Park tells military to set aside political considerations, respond strongly to N.K. provocations

[charlie and algernon]

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea President Park Geun-hye instructed the military to set aside any political considerations and respond strongly in the event of North Korean provocations, as Pyongyang has churned out near-daily threats of war on the divided peninsula.

"The reason for the military's existence is to protect the country and the people from threats. If any provocations happen against our people and our country, we should respond strongly in the early stage without having any political considerations," Park made the remark during a policy briefing by the defense ministry.

In recent weeks, North Korea has sharply ratcheted up tensions with repeated war threats against the South in anger over joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States as well as a new U.N. Security Council resolution adopted for its third nuclear test.


Read more: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2013/04/01/84/0200000000AEN20130401006800315F.HTML

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Yikes.

[amandabeech]

1. Yikes is right.

I hope that this is just talk, because it sounds like it wouldn't take too much to get things going on the Korean peninsula right now.

[bossy22]

2. i hope so

I'm praying it is just sabre rattling and nothing more will come of it. I have a lot of friends in south korea from my time abroad and I know they feel the same way too.

[amandabeech]

3. I'll send good vibes for your friends,

and everyone who might be hurt if the worst happens.

[Malik Agar]

4. Did America give the green-light for a preemptive strike?

To me this news looks like America has finally told the South that we have its back even if it strikes first. The North better back down soon they will lose more then face.

[Posteritatis]

5. The article's pretty clearly talking about responses, not preemption. (nt)

[charlie and algernon]

6. There's another article that talks about South Korea allowing for preemption

S. Korea sets out 'active deterrence' against N. Korea's nuke threats

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense ministry unveiled Monday a new contingency plan of "active deterrence" that allows its military to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea if the North shows signs of an imminent nuclear or missile attack on the South.

The new contingency plan was outlined in an annual policy briefing by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to President Park Geun-hye amid heightened tensions over the escalation of North Korea's bellicose rhetoric against Seoul and Washington.

In a briefing to Park, Defense Minister Kim said the military is mapping out "an active deterrence and will build an attack system to swiftly neutralize North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, while significantly improving our military's capability of surveillance and reconnaissance."

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/04/01/81/0301000000AEN20130401003700315F.HTML

[Posteritatis]

8. That's a pretty specific tripwire. (nt)

[James48]

7. Let us hope it is not necessary.

If rockets fly then people die.

Spent three trips in Korea. Not a good place for a war.
Much better place for morning calm. Let's kee[ it that way.

[Fearless]

9. Yikes indeed.