Obama Slams North Korea But Mum on Response

Calls for International Opposition to North Korea

by Jason Ditz, November 24, 2010

In an interview to be broadcast of Friday President Obama condemned North Korea for its involvement in a clash earlier this week with South Korea, saying it was “just one more provocative incident” from the North.

Obama went on to say that he would be “talking to the president of Korea this evening and we’ll be consulting closely with them in terms of the appropriate response.” South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has called for massive retaliation against the North, but it was unclear what he said in his talks with President Obama.

In any case US officials have promised to cooperate in whatever further escalation the South Korean government sees fit, but recent polls showing the American public opposes the involvement of US combat troops in yet another Korean War may give them some pause.

US officials have demanded that the international community unite to condemn North Korea and it seems that, at least until the South Korean president decides otherwise, this is going to be the extent of the US response. Given President Lee’s hawkish stands toward the North, this could mean almost anything for the 28,000 US troops deployed along the border.

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