This scenario may occur very soon.
NK warns of escalated tension
By Wang Zhaokun
North Korea warned Sunday that South Korea's plan to hold a naval live-fire drill in waters near the disputed west coast is escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
"The enemy's provocative madness has been driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to an uncontrollably extreme state. ... No one can expect how the situation will develop in the future," Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said in a statement, according to AFP.
North Korea is now maintaining "maximum self-possession and self-control," the Xinhua News Agency quoted the statement as saying. "If an all-out war breaks out between the two sides, it will seriously affect peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the rest of the region."
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said last week that the naval drills, starting today, will include live-fire from ships into waters near Dae-cheong Island.
However, Pyongyang said a similar drill November 23, when the South fired artillery shells into its waters, triggered a tense exchange of artillery fire between the two sides in which four South Koreans were killed on Yeonpyeong Island, according to Reuters.
South Korea has staged a series of military exercises, including a massive four-day joint naval drill with the US last week, amid high tension following the November 23 incident.
Pyongyang's warning also came after South Korea's newly named defense chief, Kim Kwan-jin, said Friday at his confirmation hearing that Seoul will respond with air strikes if North Korea attacks again.
from China Global Times
No comments:
Post a Comment