China Calls For Emergency Meeting As South Korea, U.S. Begin War Games

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's president on Monday took responsibility for failing to protect his citizens from a deadly North Korean artillery attack last week, vowing tough consequences for any future aggression and expressing outrage over the "ruthlessness of the North Korean regime."

Lee Myung-bak's short speech to the country came as a nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier and a South Korean destroyer participated in joint military exercises, a united show of force nearly a week after an artillery barrage on Yeonpyeong island killed four, including two civilians.

Also Monday, a South Korean county designated the front-line island as "off-limits" to civilians. The decision could pave the way for the evacuation of about 300 remaining residents, journalists and officials.

Lim Byung-chan, a spokesman for Ongjin County, which governs the island, said the designation was issued at the request of South Korea's military. South Korea's Defense Ministry says it will discuss whether to carry out the evacuation.

On Sunday, the ministry urged the media to leave the island and sent a ship to ferry them off, saying it could not guarantee their safety. However, bad weather forced a cancellation.

Amid the heightened tension, classified U.S. State Department documents leaked Sunday by online whistle-blower WikiLeaks showed the United States and South Korea discussing possible scenarios for reunification of the peninsula, and American worry over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Under pressure to take stronger action in dealing with the defiant North, Lee lashed out at Pyongyang.

"Only a few meters away from where shells landed, there is a school where classes were going on," Lee said. "I am outraged by the ruthlessness of the North Korean regime, which is even indifferent to the lives of little children."

Lee has come under withering criticism for what opponents have called lapses in South Korea's response to the attack. Lee has replaced his defense minister, ordered reinforcements for the 4,000 troops on Yeonpyeong and four other Yellow Sea islands and upgraded rules of engagement.

Comments

[BorisPutinov]

10:40 PM on 11/29/2010

Tovarishi.
A friend once told me that your country is consumed with playing games of all kinds ( sports, gambling, computer games, etc. ).
I am told that the game industry in your country is one of the principal Industries supporting your economy.
Playing games seems to be an important part of your psyche; very interesting.

Boris

[mike72]

06:56 AM on 11/30/2010

We like games. Games abstract out the unnecessarily and unpleasant minor facts and leave us with the exciting indulgence. It keeps out collective mental mind in a healthy spin.

[dbmetzger]

02:21 PM on 11/29/2010

South Koreans Pressuring Their Government to Use Force
South Koreans are used to their turbulent North Korean neighbors, and seem not to think a war will break out, but still wants their government to act more severely. http://www.newslook.com/videos/269779-south-koreans-pressuring-their-government-to-use-force?autoplay=true

[Liberal2009]

12:46 PM on 11/29/2010

Funny how we’re sending the Seventh Fleet as a “show of commitment to regional stability through deterrence.” One man’s deterrence is another man’s provocation.

Economy in the tank? The natives getting restless at home? Start a war! Works every time.

Where’s the diplomacy from our Nobel Laureate-in-Chief? Acting every bit the Neocon.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=1216

[Sean Foley]

06:44 PM on 11/29/2010

What do you suggest? Sanctions? Those have worked well, haven't they. A UN wag of the finger? Wow, scary.

Innocent people were killed. That's an act of war. End of story.

[mike72]

06:49 AM on 11/30/2010

Sean,

Somehow War Games is your answer?

I don't understand the rational.

Don't forget, it is US-South Korean war games (military exercise) that started the whole mess with shelling of the contested water.

Get your timeline straight.

Innocent peoeple were killed? There are over one million innocent Iraqi people have been killed yet somehow it that was ok.

Check your mental state.

[vulpecula762mm]

11:13 AM on 11/29/2010

I think that SK needs to import some fords and some beef from the USA before we lift a cotton-picking finger... what you say?

[CDRUSNret]

02:20 PM on 11/29/2010

ITA! The fact that they snubbed Obama at the G20 regarding the proposed trade agreement was quite telling. Time to greatly reduce our presence there. Most of them don't want us there, and they have the capability to defend themselves. If they are not quite sure....they have the $$ to beef up their military.

[Beyrak]

10:17 AM on 11/29/2010

Excellent! I remember operation "Team Spirit" in my days in Korea in 1978-1979. It always got under North Korea's skin.

I wish we would get this two day war with N. Korea over with and once and for all unify Korea. Take out the top NK leadership, and it would be over.

[Dantee]

09:41 AM on 11/29/2010

We initially got into a conflict which was a civil war in Korea and turned it into a full-scale war because we did not agree with their politics and beliefs. We lost a lot of American soldiers and spent vast fortunes in that war. Now we've been there more than 50 years and have continued to pour funding into military operations and governance. Now, we will escalate the expense and the losses.

[Golemaximus]

10:34 AM on 11/29/2010

Dantee - You better read up a little on the Korean war before you make anymore wild assertions about what it was or how it started. I'm not advocating a war with NK but we are either good to our security alliances or we are not. If SK retaliates and it touches off a war. We are going to be neck deep in it! What do you want to do? Turn our backs on SK? If they want to accept the senseless killing of their civilians and bullying by NK that is their call to make not ours. It is in Korean hands and we will stand by our allies.

[Sundiszno]

01:20 PM on 11/29/2010

Without the U.N. and American involvement in 1950, you would have a Korea problem (as in one Korea under granpa Kim, papa Kim and baby Kim) and not a North Korea problem. We would now be talking about Korea bombing Japan. Korean War began with the full invasion by North Korea and would have been over within weeks with complete victory by the North except for U.N. involvement led by U.S. forces. The U.N. approved the use of force only because Soviet Union was boycotting the U.N. and was not there to exercise the veto.

[morristhewise]

09:08 AM on 11/29/2010

Kim Jong Il keeps his job only because of US and China`s approval.He is the only one powerful enough to maintain the status quo. If he was gone refugees would flee in all directions searching for food.

[Beyrak]

10:18 AM on 11/29/2010

Koreans want a unified Korea. My wife is from there. They all have family on both sides.

[Sundiszno]

01:21 PM on 11/29/2010

I agree, but at the same time Koreans fear the practical impact of a sudden reunification.

[Demarcus Jackson]

08:16 AM on 11/29/2010

Let Kim Jong-il spend a week with Sarah Palin. That should take care of the North Korea situation.

[proudem]

09:20 AM on 11/29/2010

gotta fan you for that one...made me chuckle. Thanks.

[Demarcus Jackson]

12:31 PM on 11/29/2010

Thanks and no problem.

Look me up http://www.facebook.com/demarcus.i.jackson

[Sundiszno]

01:22 PM on 11/29/2010

And hopefully the Sarah Palin situation as well. A win-win.

[valhalladad]

06:19 AM on 11/29/2010

Korea as the ultimate distraction from the Middle East;

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/ObamasKorea.php

[squiems]

09:33 AM on 11/29/2010

that article is one of the most ridiculous pieces of conspiracy literature i've ever written. good for a laugh though.

[valhalladad]

11:49 AM on 11/29/2010

Of course you are completely unbiased on the issue right?

[Howard53545]

05:26 AM on 11/29/2010

Don't go too far following US, North Korea will have you swimming in a lake of fire, and US will be gone baby gone.

[toocoolfoschool1234]

06:24 AM on 11/29/2010

huh?

[Jim Elkins]

04:56 PM on 11/29/2010

WTH???

[Howard53545]

05:29 AM on 12/02/2010

They got enough people to hand carry the nuke to South Korea and do not forget they can see S. Korea.

[Sans Octavian]

04:52 AM on 11/29/2010

The Chinese understand power. It is all the y understand. Show them power and they back down. It does not mean go to war - merely show the Chinese you mean business and are not going to bow down. If they want to help let them on board, if not move forward. The Yellow Sea is not China's solely.

[vulpecula762mm]

11:15 AM on 11/29/2010

Agreed. NO more Kowtowing

[Howard53545]

05:30 AM on 12/02/2010

Yeah, like they back down in Korea and the Vietnamese backed down in the Nam. The dudes wearing pajamas and gym shoes kept a coming.

[Palaver]

04:40 AM on 11/29/2010

Hmmm... the last two incidents started from military exercises near the NK border. Now we're going to do a bigger military exercise.

Sounds like we found a button to push and we're just going to keep mashing it until we get the war we want.

[1differentdrummer]

05:14 AM on 11/29/2010

Yeah, call up the Reserve and Guard. Oh, they're busy? Never mind.

[muck-raker]

05:55 AM on 11/29/2010

Palaver agreed F&F...let me be devils advocate here......IF N.Korea and Iran were having WAR GAMES 7 MILES off the coast of NYC.........What would be the result? anyone....my take it would be the same as we have just witnessed. We would have SUNK them in record time and gone on to attack their home countries.....WHY because the mega Corporations and Defense Industry need the money.....it matters not to them that they will be making money off the backs of our dead sons and daughters. my .02

[merrymay]

07:57 AM on 11/29/2010

You're so right to be cynical. But even in WWII there was a lot of shrewd maneuvering about what to counter and what to ignore...or even what to varnish over!

[CoopDscoop]

03:43 AM on 11/29/2010

"As I read the article reported in Huff Post....byline: Tom Doctoroff...entitled...

"STANDING UP TO CHINA, THE OBAMA WAY", I was struck by the following statement:
___________________________________________
***North Asia Area Director, of JWT advertising firm;

As the senior leader of one Chinese state-owned enterprise said to me, "I used to think [Obama] was nice. Then I realized he was intelligent. Now I know he's shrewd, just like Hu Jintao. Your leader is a strategist."
____________________________________________

Why did I take note of his remarks? ...

Because, I will be watching very closely how President Obama will communicates our National Security interest to the Chinese government in the coming days pertaining to N. Korea ....

The observations stated above by the Director are shared by me. I have great confidence in our Commander-in-Chief...

The North and South Korean "issue" will take more than military might...

It will, indeed, take a President with, as the Director said...

*Great intellegence...
*Shrewdness...
*and, a comprehension for strategy! ...

Bless our President to utilize all of his gifts and talents during these tense and trying times.

I dare say...
I hope he's, also, a good juggler, as well!"


:>) Coop

[Golemaximus]

04:00 AM on 11/29/2010

Coop - You're going to be sadly disappointed!

[CoopDscoop]

05:38 AM on 11/29/2010

[Golemaximus] ...

"I don't think so...

Judging the President's abilities while dealing with world leaders...

Is, I suspect, vastly different from dealing with domestic lawmakers.

The skill sets needed are very different...

and, as we have all witnessed... attempting to negoiate with the 'Repugnantcans' with...

Intellence... shrewdness...and rational strategic thinking...

is an excercise in futility!"

:>) Coop

[proudem]

09:25 AM on 11/29/2010

I don't think so either...his foriegn policy is impressive. And while there are a few things that I am a little disappointed in here at home...I still believe he is a good leader.

[merrymay]

07:52 AM on 11/29/2010

You know, I think you're picking up on a real truth here. Obama hasn't clicked with Americans lately, but for those same reasons he may do very well with the far east. I hope and pray you're right.

[lionzion]

03:20 AM on 11/29/2010

North Korea just played the longest game of "War Truce" known to man. They waited until they smell blood and Sarah Palin creeping into presidential candidancy; to know that we shouldn't be taken seriously anymore. Oh, well, who's up for next year Draft, and I am not talking about the NFL?

[CDRUSNret]

09:49 AM on 11/29/2010

From being on HP as long as I have...I knew all of the problems of the world are related to Reagan, Bush, Cheney, Fox News, etc.......laying the blame of the flare-up in Korea on Palin seems to be the next logical step for some HP posters.

[AlexABC]

02:18 AM on 11/29/2010

It is one small step for China. But the world still expects too much of it. China does not have the geopolitical strength to coax North Korea (or South Korea or the US) into anything. The best it can do is to move away from its "business first" consideration toward every nation, N. Korea included, and think about the larger geopolitical picture.

[Sans Octavian]

04:52 AM on 11/29/2010

The world is going to see that on a global stage China is merely a talker, not a one for action. They have the influence - use it.

[HowietheScreamer]

04:27 PM on 11/29/2010

I don't think China is just a talker. In the case of the DPRK, they are the only thing keeping the DPRK from collapse. China supplies EVERYTHING that keeps the DPRK running on a day to day basis. Fuel, food, electricity, all come across the boarder from China. All China has to do is start tightening the screws, and the DPRK will come into line. The real problem is that China doesn't know how to use this power in anything other than its own self interest. Right now, the interest of China is keeping the DPRK stable so that 25 million North Koreans don't come flooding over the boarder into China. That is the ONLY consideration China has. The military exercises by the US and the RoK are a nuisance. Nothing more.