South Korean and US officials have signed a plan for retaliation against a possible attack from North Korea, a deal which would oblige US military intervention even in the case of limited skirmishes along the disputed border.
“It will have the effect of preventing the North from daring to provoke us,” insisted South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok. The plan is being touted as a potential response to a threatened attack on South Korean islands along the maritime border.
Small incidents along the border are not unusual, and in late 2010 North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire, with both sides blaming the other for starting it. Earlier in that same year, South Korea’s government accused the north of sinking a ship, though it remains unclear to this day if they were actually involved.
Though the exact terms of today’s pact are not public yet, there is a risk that rather than preventing such incidents, the obligation for direct US military involvement could mean precipitous escalation when minor disputes break out, and might encourage South Korea to pick fights for diplomatic gain, counting on North Korea to fear a full-scale war enough to knuckle under quickly.
The man who received the noble peace prize.., is about to start another war beside the wars that he is already in.., up to the American people's neck. There goes the honor of Nobel peace prize.., the norwegian should change the name to war prize made possible by America.
Interesting how Jason downplays the attack on Yeonpyeong as an exchange of gunfire. With all the bellicose rhetoric coming out of North Korea don't you think it prudent to have contingency plans in place?
war guarantees to minor states with disputed borders, what could go wrong?
South Korea can take care of itself. We should have pulled our 36,000 troops out of there in 1995, at the end of the Cold war. Spending billions of tax dollars to babysit the Koreans and maintaining our 5-star Hotel in Yongsan is appalling. If north Korea did invade the south, I'll bet China would invade the north.