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Pyongyang ups ante with nuke threat as Seoul holds big drills
Source: Agencies |
December 24, 2010, Friday
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NORTH Korea yesterday warned of a "sacred war" against South Korea using its nuclear deterrent as South Korean President Lee Myung-bak vowed a "merciless counterattack" if his country is attacked again.
Both sides raised the rhetoric on a day South Korea launched major military exercises, prompting North Korea to denounce its neighbor as a warmonger.
"To counter the enemy's intentional drive to push the situation to the brink of war, our revolutionary forces are making preparations to begin a sacred war at any moment necessary based on nuclear deterrent," North Korea's KCNA news agency quoted Minister of Armed Forces Kim Yong-chun as saying.
Kim said North Korea is "fully prepared to launch a sacred war" and would use its nuclear capabilities, calling yesterday's drills a "grave military provocation" that indicated South Korea is pushing to invade North Korea.
He said the military will deal "more devastating physical blows" to its enemies if they cross into North Korea's territory even slightly.
Tension hit a peak last month when North Korea shelled South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, killing four people, in response to South Korea's live-fire drill in what North Korea said were its waters.
Lee said on a tour of a South Korean forward army base overlooking North Korea that South Korea would not relax its readiness to counter any further aggression.
"We had believed patience would ensure peace on this land, but that was not the case," said Lee, criticized for a perceived earlier weak response to North Korean attacks.
South Korea held a major land drill in the Pocheon region, between Seoul and the heavily armed demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas yesterday. It also continued naval live-fire exercises 100 kilometers south of the maritime border. The drill involves a larger scale of firepower and personnel than usual, a further indication that Lee wants to show the public his government can stand up to North Korea.
Mechanized units operating tanks, self-propelled artillery, fighter jets and multiple rocket launchers, took part in the drill not far from the border.
It lasted just less than an hour.
Lee has replaced top defense officials with more hawkish military men, a response to criticism of his response to hostile acts, including an attack on a ship in March blamed on North Korea and the shelling of Yeonpyeong.
Analysts say North Korea is unlikely, in the near-term at least, to launch a further attack against South Korea.
For now, North Korea is likely to wait and see if its latest actions, including the offer to readmit international nuclear inspectors, yield results.
Both sides raised the rhetoric on a day South Korea launched major military exercises, prompting North Korea to denounce its neighbor as a warmonger.
"To counter the enemy's intentional drive to push the situation to the brink of war, our revolutionary forces are making preparations to begin a sacred war at any moment necessary based on nuclear deterrent," North Korea's KCNA news agency quoted Minister of Armed Forces Kim Yong-chun as saying.
Kim said North Korea is "fully prepared to launch a sacred war" and would use its nuclear capabilities, calling yesterday's drills a "grave military provocation" that indicated South Korea is pushing to invade North Korea.
He said the military will deal "more devastating physical blows" to its enemies if they cross into North Korea's territory even slightly.
Tension hit a peak last month when North Korea shelled South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, killing four people, in response to South Korea's live-fire drill in what North Korea said were its waters.
Lee said on a tour of a South Korean forward army base overlooking North Korea that South Korea would not relax its readiness to counter any further aggression.
"We had believed patience would ensure peace on this land, but that was not the case," said Lee, criticized for a perceived earlier weak response to North Korean attacks.
South Korea held a major land drill in the Pocheon region, between Seoul and the heavily armed demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas yesterday. It also continued naval live-fire exercises 100 kilometers south of the maritime border. The drill involves a larger scale of firepower and personnel than usual, a further indication that Lee wants to show the public his government can stand up to North Korea.
Mechanized units operating tanks, self-propelled artillery, fighter jets and multiple rocket launchers, took part in the drill not far from the border.
It lasted just less than an hour.
Lee has replaced top defense officials with more hawkish military men, a response to criticism of his response to hostile acts, including an attack on a ship in March blamed on North Korea and the shelling of Yeonpyeong.
Analysts say North Korea is unlikely, in the near-term at least, to launch a further attack against South Korea.
For now, North Korea is likely to wait and see if its latest actions, including the offer to readmit international nuclear inspectors, yield results.
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