Posted on 03/01/2003 8:24:56 AM PST by AntiGuv
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, in his first policy speech since taking office, on Saturday warned of a "calamity" from the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program unless a peaceful resolution is found quickly.
After his speech, Pyongyang issued a dispatch threatening that nuclear war could break out on the Korean Peninsula at "any moment," an escalation of the communist North's hostile rhetoric as international pressure grows for it to disarm.
On the eve of Roh's inauguration Tuesday, North Korea fueled tensions by test-firing a missile into the sea off its east coast. Anticipating a second test, Japanese Deputy Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Saturday that Pyongyang may fire its long-range Taepodong ballistic missile toward the sea between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, Kyodo news agency reported.
The North's official news agency also accused Washington of planning massive war games to prepare for an invasion, and said the country is "fully ready to repel the U.S. military attack."
North Korea will take "a self-defensive measure when it thinks that the U.S. pre-emptive attack is eminent," the agency KCNA said, without elaborating.
KCNA - the reclusive Stalinist regime's bulletin board for the outside world - claimed an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane had intruded into North Korean airspace over its east coast almost daily since Feb. 21.
The U.S. military does not comment on such reports, said Stephen Oertwig, a U.S. military spokesman in Seoul. But North Korea's east coast is dotted with guns and missile bases that U.S. intelligence officials believe can launch ballistic missiles.
The allegations of intrusions came as the United States and South Korea planned two joint annual military exercises on March 4-April 2 and March 19-26.
"These unceasing U.S. war drills drive the situation on the Korean Peninsula to such a dangerous pitch of tension that a nuclear war may break out on it any moment," KCNA said Saturday.
Washington has repeatedly said it has no plans to invade North Korea.
On Saturday, 100,000 pro-U.S. demonstrators jammed a downtown Seoul plaza to support the presence of 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea and condemn the North.
The demonstrators, many of them veterans in military uniforms who waved South Korean and U.S. flags, want the troops to remain to defend the South from a possible Northern attack.
In addition to the missile test, North Korea has reactivated a 5-megawatt reactor that could produce material for nuclear weapons, U.S. and South Korean officials said earlier this week.
South Korea sees Pyongyang's recent maneuvers as aimed at forcing the United States into direct dialogue on a nonaggression treaty.
Washington has refused to hold direct talks unless Pyongyang abandons its nuclear programs and has ruled out a formal nonaggression treaty with Pyongyang, saying it has never signed such a treaty with any country.
But U.S. officials say they could give the North with a letter guaranteeing its security. They also say the issue should be handled by the U.N. Security Council.
In his speech, President Roh said he adamantly opposes North Korea's nuclear development, but the issue must be resolved peacefully.
"If peace on the Korean Peninsula collapses for whatever reason, it would bring about a tremendous calamity that we cannot cope with," Roh said.
The nuclear dispute flared in October when Washington said North Korean officials had admitted pursuing a nuclear program, which violated a 1994 pact.
Washington and its allies cut off oil shipments to the impoverished communist state. The North responded by saying it would reactivate its frozen facilities. It also expelled U.N. monitors and withdrew from the global Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
That's simply not true. The RC-135 doesn't need to get that close to cover a little country like North Korea. They may try a Pueblo-like snatch with one, but they'll have to come well out of North Korean airspace to get at it.
Washington has refused to hold direct talks unless Pyongyang abandons its nuclear programs and has ruled out a formal nonaggression treaty with Pyongyang, saying it has never signed such a treaty with any country.
If they're so concerned about peace, then they can show their good will by signing a peace treaty with South Korea, something they've refused to do for fifty years. Until then, they can take a hike. We don't owe them anything.
Our turn.
These would be the annual Foal Eagle (and former Team Spirit) exercises that we've been holding for decades, that just happen to coincide with the North Korean's annual military exercises. Talk about old news.
The thought's definitely been on my mind. See this other thread I just posted:
Steep price tag expected for victory in N. Korea - War would be 'military's nightmare'
My thoughts exactly. we should tell Kim, "a man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do."
(no problem, he won't think we're talking to him)
U.S. Warns North Korea Could Cease To Exist At "Any Moment"
The demonstrators, many of them veterans in military uniforms who waved South Korean and U.S. flags, want the troops to remain to defend the South from a possible Northern attack.
Looks to me like many of the South Koreans SUPPORT the United States.
Regards,
TS
AP -- On Saturday, 100,000 pro-U.S. demonstrators jammed a downtown Seoul plaza to support the presence of 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea and condemn the North.
Shut down the reactor(s) and shut up Il boy and there is the solution.
Was that 3,000 nukes we launched, or only 2,999.
To tell you the truth, in all of the excitement, I kind of lost track myself.
Now, this being a B61, the most powerful nuclear device in the US inventory, liable to blow your neutrons clean off, you gotta ask yourself one question . . .
They use those bugles like the Confederates used the “Rebel Yell”! The NK's will sweep over the GI and ROK frontline like a great, grey wave.
Before our meager forces in Japan can be landed in SK... NK will have secured the penninsula.
Keep in mind, Roh's a peace-queer and can surrender his country 1-3 days after deeming that further resistance is useless.
The SK president in 1950 was not cut from that kind of cloth.
This is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
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