North Korea blasts South; Island ablaze, U.N. emergency session 'in work'

Foxnews.com ^ | November 23, 2010 | Associated Press

[Celtic Cross]

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea bombarded a South Korean island near their disputed western border Tuesday, setting buildings ablaze and killing at least two marines and injuring 16 others after warning the South to halt military drills in the area, South Korean officials said.

South Korea said it returned fire and scrambled fighter jets in response, and said the "inhumane" attack on civilian areas violated the 1953 armistice halting the Korean War. The two sides technically remain at war because a peace treaty was never negotiated.

[aces]

Very rare that they actually send shells across, Maybe I am forgetful, but I think in my Lifetime, I am 55,one or two accounts of a rifle shot, never remember the sinking of a south Korean warship, there was the taking of a spy ship many years ago, but that I think was Russia, but to shell the base for operating in national waters, should require at least an attempt to decapitate N, Korea’s leadership.

[KevinDavis]

So let me get this straight.... There is a potential crisis developing overseas, but since a holiday is coming up, they are going to wait??? Look I’m for all celebrating holidays as the next guy, but I think trying to defuse a crisis from getting worse is more important imho...

[KevinDavis]

and the UN is a overpriced debating club..

[moovova]

"...but since a holiday is coming up, they are going to wait???..."

Sorry, the UPDATE was a joke...I shoulda included < cynicism on/off > prompts...

[Americanexpat]

This ain't 1950. Obama is not Truman and the UN leadership is non existent.

[Americanexpat]

This ain't 1950. Obama is not Truman and the UN leadership is non existent.

[Americanexpat]

yeah, what a joke.

[Americanexpat]

If you can sink a SK warship and murder 47 of its sailors why wouldn’t you think yoy could fire artillery with impunity. Nobody in powe today has the will or the balls to stand up to these communist animals.

[null and void]

I shoulda included < cynicism on/off > prompts...

There's a cynicism off command?

Who knew???

[mware]

ROK Marines may, and I say MAY have a tougher boot camp than US Marines do.

[brytlea]

I’d laugh, but it’s not even funny anymore.

[KeyLargo]

Koreas Clash: Howitzers Blast, Jets Readied, 2 Dead

Danger Room What's Next in National Security Previous post * By Spencer Ackerman * November 23, 2010 | * 9:42 am | * Categories: Rogue States

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/11/howitzers-blast-jets-readied-after-north-korea-shells-south/

At least two South Korean marines are dead and over a dozen are wounded after North Korea fired off hundreds of artillery rounds at a South Korean island. Seoul called it a clear violation of the shaky armistice that’s held between the two nations since 1953. Can the Koreas back down before another disastrous war starts on the peninsula?

Every year, the South Korean military holds a massive exercise called Hoguk, or “Defending the Nation,” in which tens of thousands of troops from across the services work on their coordination in the face of an attack. And every year, the North Koreans denounce it as “dangerous war maneuvers” as that simulate an invasion. So this year’s exercise, featuring 70,000 troops, many drilling in the Yellow Sea, should come as no surprise. It’s expected to begin shortly.

Except early today, the North began shelling the inhabited island of Yeonpyeongdo, about two miles south of the maritime armistice line. According to the Korea Times – which headlines its piece “1st NK Attack on S. Korean Soil” — the North’s army is believed “to have about eight 27-kilometer-range 130mm howitzers and eight 76 guns with a range of 12 kilometers,” presumably at use in the strike.

The so-called "131-ton medium-Shanghai class patrol boat," that Western China 62 high-speed gunboats of the title (since the West was first found that the gunboats in Shanghai). The picture shows May 31, 2009, the North Korea's nuclear test, a North Korean fishing boats hiding behind the 62-type gunboat reconnaissance Yeonpyeong Island waters. South Korea's gunboats repeatedly accused North Korea of China and the Korean fishing boats to do a cover provocative in disputed waters.

[paladinan]

Well, if you remember, NK sunk a SK ship a few months ago.

Good point!

[KeyLargo]

[Lurker]

ROK Marines may, and I say MAY have a tougher boot camp than US Marines do.

I recall watching ROK Marines on the parade deck at 0500 practicing their Tae Kwon Do pretty much full speed without pads.

They are some tough SOB's and you do NOT want to piss them off.

[MinuteGal]

My relative and family travelled to Georgia last week to welcome home her son returning from Afghanistan. He told her that after a brief stay his unit was being re-assigned to Korea. I told her that must be a relief.....

And now this.

She has three sons in active service. Prayers for the whole family.

Leni

[Georgia Girl 2]

Gee just when Obama needed a crisis one pops up. Hmmmm!!

[Americanexpat]

Remember just after the elections and Biden warned everyone that all these dictators were going to be testing Obama to see if he had what it takes to play with the big boys?

[Caipirabob]

Time to go Roman on them. “for every soldier that is killed we will destroy one city in return” I see two NK cities as potential smoking holes...

You can't be looking to the White House for that kind of response. Heck, you might get closer by assembling the cast of "Queer Eye" and putting them in charge...