South Korea says North Korea has launched an artillery attack on one of its border islands, reportedly killing two South Korean soldiers. South Korea has now returned fire as it slips into its highest non wartime alert. It's a "reckless provocation" accordingly to Professor Zhu Feng from Peking University, whilst Dr. Park Young believes this is North Korea flexing its muscles.
"Although I can't be certain of the rationale behind North Korea's attacks yet, I see it as North Korea's intention to turn this region into a conflict zone so that it can bring the concerned parties to the discussion table....By showing that it has nuclear capacity and by firing artillery shells today, I think it is trying to make a point that it is militarily capable and thus should not be lightly regarded. Ultimately, I think it is strategically seeking to tilt talks concerning the contested Northern Limit Line and the peace treaty toward its advantage." Is this attention seeking behaviour that should be ignored, or are South Koreans right to be concerned?
Joseph in Nigeria - North Korea has become such a nuisance simply because of the fact that there is nothing the international community can do anymore. The kim regime doesn't care about its people anyway
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18:15
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Muhyiddin - a little bit scared because nobody wants a war and died many people because of the casualties.
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18:13
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Jens on the blog - recent events should show you clearly that this regime is the true aggressor in the region. Otherwise why would North Korea need a nuclear weapon? Why does it attack south korea on a monthly basis? And why is it completely shut off from the outside world?
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18:13
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They had promised about a phyisical response b4 .
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18:13
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Julie - No one in their right mind is afraid of North Korea. It's a nation lead by a mad man whose only power comes from starving his own.
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18:12
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Deniece - I honestly can't think of any country that I'm afraid. Not unless I count my own. Americans seem to have a very blatant 'We're us and we're right attitude.' Threatening another country to get them to do what you want isn't right.
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18:10
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Pancha Chandra on the blog - This is not a storm in a tea-cup! This belligerent act by North Korea is bound to create shock-waves throughout the region. Nobody in their right senses wants a reenactment of the Korean War
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18:09
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ModernJan on the blog - North Korea needs energy, the regime needs a guarantee against a war with South Korea and also a means with which they can blackmail the outside world to send aid, so the regime needs nukes.
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18:07
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Pilot Dan on the blog - The North could not have carried out any type of attack without the permission, advice and approval of the Chinese. They know Obama will make a speech from his teleprompter at the U.N. while millions of Koreans are killed or enslaved and Seoul is destroyed. Thus for the North Koreans NOW is the time to press for the unification of Korea under Communist rule.
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18:06
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Sean, Beijing, China emailed - I think Kim Jong-il is trying a balancing act. While preparing his son, Kim Jong-un, for leadership the older Kim wants to look tough.
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18:06
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Paul, Busan, Korea emailed - I've seen many standoffs in Korea, but this feels different. It feels 'tighter'.
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18:05
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Denny Hong, Seoul, South Korea - My response was to go bowling. You can't let your life be dictated by North Korea. This is an old story presented in a new light.
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18:05
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Anton, Seoul, Korea - I work in Seoul area and so far, most people are describing the situation with humour. Definitely no panic or fear of any kind. Life is going on as usual in the Korean capital and I believe by the end of the week, it will be forgotten.
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18:04
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Tae Kim, Seoul, Korea emails - As a father of an 8 week old newborn living in Seoul facing mandatory national guard training this Friday, this situation does quite scare me a bit. However, being the practical me, I decided to take the opportunity to discuss frankly with my wife what she should do for herself and our son if the situation escalates.
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18:02
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Hello - it''s Ben S here. We''re asking a simple question today: are you scared of North Korea? Leave your comments below. You can listen here:
Are you scared of North Korea?
| Tuesday, 11 Nov. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
South Korea says North Korea has launched an artillery attack on one of its border islands, reportedly killing two South Korean soldiers. South Korea has now returned fire as it slips into its highest non wartime alert.
It's a "reckless provocation" accordingly to Professor Zhu Feng from Peking University, whilst Dr. Park Young believes this is North Korea flexing its muscles.
"Although I can't be certain of the rationale behind North Korea's attacks yet, I see it as North Korea's intention to turn this region into a conflict zone so that it can bring the concerned parties to the discussion table....By showing that it has nuclear capacity and by firing artillery shells today, I think it is trying to make a point that it is militarily capable and thus should not be lightly regarded. Ultimately, I think it is strategically seeking to tilt talks concerning the contested Northern Limit Line and the peace treaty toward its advantage."
Is this attention seeking behaviour that should be ignored, or are South Koreans right to be concerned?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Joseph in Nigeria - North Korea has become such a nuisance simply because of the fact that there is nothing the international community can do anymore. The kim regime doesn't care about its people anyway
Comment sent via Facebook
Muhyiddin - a little bit scared because nobody wants a war and died many people because of the casualties.
Comment sent via BLOG
Jens on the blog - recent events should show you clearly that this regime is the true aggressor in the region. Otherwise why would North Korea need a nuclear weapon? Why does it attack south korea on a monthly basis? And why is it completely shut off from the outside world?
Comment sent via SMS
They had promised about a phyisical response b4 .
Comment sent via Facebook
Julie - No one in their right mind is afraid of North Korea. It's a nation lead by a mad man whose only power comes from starving his own.
Comment sent via Facebook
Deniece - I honestly can't think of any country that I'm afraid. Not unless I count my own. Americans seem to have a very blatant 'We're us and we're right attitude.' Threatening another country to get them to do what you want isn't right.
Comment sent via BLOG
Pancha Chandra on the blog - This is not a storm in a tea-cup! This belligerent act by North Korea is bound to create shock-waves throughout the region. Nobody in their right senses wants a reenactment of the Korean War
Comment sent via BLOG
ModernJan on the blog - North Korea needs energy, the regime needs a guarantee against a war with South Korea and also a means with which they can blackmail the outside world to send aid, so the regime needs nukes.
Comment sent via BLOG
Pilot Dan on the blog - The North could not have carried out any type of attack without the permission, advice and approval of the Chinese. They know Obama will make a speech from his teleprompter at the U.N. while millions of Koreans are killed or enslaved and Seoul is destroyed. Thus for the North Koreans NOW is the time to press for the unification of Korea under Communist rule.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sean, Beijing, China emailed - I think Kim Jong-il is trying a balancing act. While preparing his son, Kim Jong-un, for leadership the older Kim wants to look tough.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Paul, Busan, Korea emailed - I've seen many standoffs in Korea, but this feels different. It feels 'tighter'.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Denny Hong, Seoul, South Korea - My response was to go bowling. You can't let your life be dictated by North Korea. This is an old story presented in a new light.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Anton, Seoul, Korea - I work in Seoul area and so far, most people are describing the situation with humour. Definitely no panic or fear of any kind. Life is going on as usual in the Korean capital and I believe by the end of the week, it will be forgotten.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Tae Kim, Seoul, Korea emails - As a father of an 8 week old newborn living in Seoul facing mandatory national guard training this Friday, this situation does quite scare me a bit. However, being the practical me, I decided to take the opportunity to discuss frankly with my wife what she should do for herself and our son if the situation escalates.
Comment sent via host
Hello - it''s Ben S here. We''re asking a simple question today: are you scared of North Korea? Leave your comments below. You can listen here: