Editorial
Sabre-rattling to wanton bellicosity
Pyongyang's attack on South Korean island is condemnable
We have noted with serious concern Tuesday's North Korean artillery strike on South Korea's Yeonpyeong island. It has taken a toll of both military and civilian casualties with tension mounting in the volatile region. It has gone down as one of the most serious border incidents since the Korean war in 1950-53. It has triggered concern in world capitals, especially against the backdrop of Pyongyang's disclosure of an operational uranium enrichment programme, being regarded as a second potentiality of building an atom bomb.
Reclusive North Korea's nuclear ambitions, defiant of the six-nation negotiation process which it abandoned in April 2009 keep not only its neighbour worrying but the regional and NATO powers as well. North's show of belligerence have had to do in part with what observers see as consolidation of the succession process in Pyongyang.
The US and Britain predictably came out strongly condemning the 'unprovoked' attack. President Obama has reaffirmed Washington's firm commitment to the defense of its ally, ROK and 'maintenance of peace and stability in the region'. Japan's PM Naoto Nan whose country has a history of troubled relations with Pyongyang has alerted his government 'to prepare for any eventuality'. NATO's wholesale condemnation, Russia's warning of a 'colossal danger', China's expression of 'concern over the situation' bespeak a global nature of involvement, at least at the psychological level. Basically, this is indicative of how seriously the world looks at the untoward development in the Korean peninsula and seeks to stem a conflagration in the region.
We condemn North Korea's blatant attack on the South Korean island and the human cost, in violation of UN charter and Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean war, apart from the bilateral protocol between Pyongyang and Seoul. While we counsel restraint on both sides, regional countries and world powers should move in concert to wield their influence in defusing tension between the two Koreas.
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