North Korea fires artillery barrage on South

[Sarge]

Ru Roh Raggy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101123/wl_afp/nkoreaskoreamilitarynuclearweapons_20101123092327


SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday, killing one person, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert.

In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon, the government convened in an underground war room and "multiple" air force jets scrambled.

The firing came after North Korea's disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment programme -- a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb -- which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies.

Some 50 shells landed on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong near the tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported.

 

[Henry]

I suspect NK is about to overplay their hand.

Not that that's a good thing for anybody.

 

[servumtuum]

I imagine the leadership in China is wishing right now that North Korea would just fall off the face of the planet. This puts them in an extremely awkward position with hard-liners in the government still wanting North Korea as an ally and trade partner and the economic pragmatists who've been busy expanding China's involvement in the global market-which, of course means, not offending potentially helpful trade partners by inaction or procrastination in taking a position publicly.

 

[Sarge]

I would imagine of NK ****s up one more time, it's gonna be on

 

[Sarge]

We should just do what South Korea did after the sub incident. Cut off all food aid. Won't fight long starving to death

 

[Sarge]

Then the artillery barrage starts on Seoul

 

[Sarge]

That and Osan AB are already figured to be toast. If it escalates to that point, then a low yield nuclear weapon on Pyongpang will be the only thing that will end the conflict quickly

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

NK is a renegade state, the problem is that its also pretty much in a perfect spot to go offencive, the ROK really would have to go on an all out offensive to avoid losing a huge amount of its civilian population.

 

[fansince62]

that's a nasty, nasty part of the world. one huge friggin MOA (military operating area). no operation there will end up pretty.

 

[Sarge]

Yep, they'll be a tough nut to crack, and any operation there should be fronted entirely by the ROK army. I see us involved to make sure the CHICOMS don't start supplying to the north again and to ensure the North doesn't use nukes. The CHICOMS will probably be glad to be rid of them.

As it's been the last few years, our forces there haven't been holding back the north, but have been keeping the south from going and kicking the norths asses.

It probably is on the brink there. One more provacation after the nuke plant revelation and the sinking of that destroyer and I think it'll be on

If the south starts evacuating Seoul, get ready...............

 

[fansince62]

Yep, they'll be a tough nut to crack, and any operation there should be fronted entirely by the ROK army. I see us involved to make sure the CHICOMS don't start supplying to the north again and to ensure the North doesn't use nukes. The CHICOMS will probably be glad to be rid of them.

As it's been the last few years, our forces there haven't been holding back the north, but have been keeping the south from going and kicking the norths asses.

It probably is on the brink there. One more provacation after the nuke plant revelation and the sinking of that destroyer and I think it'll be on

If the south starts evacuating Seoul, get ready...............

so what do you think is going on?

- usual sabre rattling before a change in power?

- testing an already overloaded, ineffective Obama administration?

- quelling of internal strife to mask famine problems?

- distraction from atomic development/deployment?

- demonstration (indirectly by the Chinese) of waning American power in Asia?

- maneuvering to force more favorable multi-lateral negotiations (again)?

 

[fansince62]

the administration is sending a CVBG to the Yellow Sea. Good decision. But why it was window dressed as a "preplanned" exercise is a bit laughable. Just come out an say the actions of NK are unacceptable and will be met with force.

so...how long before Chinese subs put to sea?

 

[Sarge]

so what do you think is going on?

- usual sabre rattling before a change in power?

- testing an already overloaded, ineffective Obama administration?

- quelling of internal strife to mask famine problems?

- distraction from atomic development/deployment?

- demonstration (indirectly by the Chinese) of waning American power in Asia?

- maneuvering to force more favorable multi-lateral negotiations (again)?

All of the above except testing Obama. The world already has him figured out. These things are going to happen when you project weakness

so...how long before Chinese subs put to sea?

They are already there. I would hope the battlegroup will be at battle stations when they arrive in Korean waters.