North Korea Attacks South Korea The editors of conservative publications such as National Review, The Weekly Standard and the Washington Times want President Bush to start a war with Iraq. Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard, has written an article under the headline, "Iraq or Bust." Laurie Mylroie, publisher of Iraq News, distributes such columns and editorials to her readers. She is the author of a book about Saddam Hussein's "unfinished war" against America. But America is also engaged in an "unfinished war" with North Korea which dates back 50 years. And some analysts say that North Korea is far more of a threat to the U.S. than Iraq. North Korea has ballistic missiles that can reach U.S. soil with chemical, biological or nuclear warheads. Iraq does not. North Korea supplies weapons and technology to many other countries, making it far more dangerous globally than Iraq. Eric Margolis, a syndicated foreign affairs writer and broadcaster based in Canada, warns that if the U.S. gets bogged down in a war against Iraq, North Korea may be tempted to strike South Korea. (see stories below of recent clash between South and North Korea).He notes that North Korea, with only 25 million people, fields the world's second largest army: 1,160,000 men, with 3,800 tanks and reserves of 7.4 million. South Korea, where 37,000 US troops are based, fields an army of 560,000, 2,200 tanks, and 3 million reserves. Margolis says that Saddam, "for all his nastiness, today threatens no one, save his own miserable people." That is not strictly true. As Laurie Mylroie has documented, Saddam may have played a role in acts of terrorism on American soil such as 9/11. He also tried to assassinate the first President Bush. In addition, Iraq is clearly a threat to Israel. On Chris Matthews' Hardball show, this matter was raised with Senator John McCain, a favorite of the Weekly Standard crowd. "My nightmare," said McCain, "… is the SCUD missile which he [Saddam Hussein] has. . .aimed at Israel." Matthews countered, "Why doesn't Israel take them out?..Isn't that their job if it's a strategic threat to them? They're the most powerful nation in the Mideast." After a pause, McCain said he didn't think the U.S. would approve such a strike. Matthews replied, "Well, why don't we give them the go-ahead. Get rid of Saddam. You know, if you hate him, do it." McCain said "I'm not sure we should ask the Israelis to take care of a threat to the United States of America." And Matthews shot back "But you just said it was a threat to Israel." On May 24, those calling for war with Iraq got a jolt when Washington Post Pentagon reporter Thomas E. Ricks reported that the uniformed leaders of the U.S. military believe they have persuaded the Pentagon's civilian leadership to put off an invasion of Iraq until next year at the earliest and perhaps not to do it at all. Military officials said an invasion would require at least 200,000 troops who would face biological and chemical weapons. In the April New Yorker Magazine, Nicholas Lehmann said one senior administration official believes the American people will accept 30,000 American deaths in a military invasion of Iraq. But how many will die in another Korean War? June 29, 2002 NY Times Four Killed as North and South Korean Navy Vessels Trade Fire By DON KIRK EOUL, South Korea, Saturday, June 29 - Four South Korean marines were killed, one was missing and 18 other marines and sailors were Swounded this morning in a furious gunbattle with a North Korean navy vessel in the Yellow Sea off the South Korean west coast, the Defense Ministry said today. The government-controlled Korea Broadcasting System showed dramatic film shortly after noon today of a patrol boat flying a North Korean flag sailing through dense smoke between two South Korean patrol boats. The Defense Ministry said the North Korean vessel had to be towed back across "the northern limit line," a buffer zone set up after the Korean War beneath which North Korean vessels are banned. Lt. General Lee Sang Hee of the South Korean DEfense Ministry said the North Korean vessel crossed the line at 9:54 a.m. three miles west of Youn Pyung Island off the South Korean coast near the end of the demilitarized zone that has divided North from South Korea since the end of the Korean War. North Korea has never recognized the legitimacy of the line. The North Korean vessel opened fire at 10:25 a.m., General Lee said, killing four marines manning positions on the deck of a South Korean vessel after ignoring warnings to turn back. He said the South Korean vessel was severely damaged. At the same time, General Lee said, talking at a briefing carried on all four Korean television networks, a second South Korean vessel opened fire. "The vessels continued to exchange sporadic gunfire until the North Korean vessel turned back,"he said, calling the incident "clearly a violation of the truce" that had ended the Korean War in July 1953. He added that the South Korean government "has issued a serious warning to North Korea." The number of North Korean casualties was not known, but North Korean sailors were clearly visible on the deck of the vessel in the film shown on the Korea Broadcasting System. The incident, which follows a series of incursions by North Korean vessels in which they had all turned back, was the most serious in the area since June 1999 when North Korea sent fishing vessels south of the northern limit line. After several days of maneuvering, South Korean Navy vessels sank a North Korean torpedo boat with at least a dozen men aboard and also damaged another vessel on June 15, 1999. This time, as in 1999, said General Lee said the North Korean vessel was accompanying fishing boats at the peak of the crabbing season in the area. The incident, coming near the end of the World Cup soccer tournament, broke a spirit of good will that South Korean leaders hoped had been engendered by the games. Although North Korea refused to participate, North Korean television has broadcast portions of a number of matches, including South Korea's victories over Italy in the second round and Spain in the quarter finals. President Kim Dae Jung, who has fostered a policy of reconciliation with North Korea, convened an emergency meeting of his national security council, according to the Korea Broadcasting System, after which the government was expected to announce "strong measures in view of the damage inflicted." The incident inspired expressions of regret as thousands of Koreans clad in red T-shirts gathered to watch South Korea play Turkey tonight in the southeastern city of Taegu. The two countries, losers in semi-finals, are vying for third place in the soccer tournament. Sunday, 30 June, 2002, 03:23 GMT 04:23 UK US attacks N Korea 'provocation' The clash was the worst between the two countries in three years The US has condemned North Korea's "armed provocation" against South Korea after a naval clash that killed four South Korean sailors and left at least 20 wounded. "We support the stance of our ally against armed provocation," State Department spokeswoman Brenda Greenberg said. South Korean officials said North Korean vessels crossed the disputed border between the two countries on Saturday and fired at its boats, triggering a gun battle. North Korea said that in fact it was the South which committed a "grave provocation" by opening fire on the patrol boats, which it said were on "routine coastal guard duty". A South Korean patrol boat was sunk in the Expressing its concern over the incident, China called on the two governments to safeguard stability on the Korean peninsula. Unknown losses incident, which took place in the Yellow Sea, and a North Korean vessel was also towed away from the scene in flames. North Korea has admitted to suffering "losses", but given no details. Forces on both sides are on high alert The battle was the most serious maritime clash between the two countries for three years and a setback to recent reconciliation efforts on the divided peninsula. The armed forces in both countries are now on high alert and the White House says it is monitoring the situation. "Naval skirmishes have happened in the past. They are always a matter of concern, and we're monitoring the situation," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. Repercussions South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, after an emergency meeting of his National Security Council, called the incident "a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement which we will never overlook". Recent sea incidents here 1998 June - Nine dead North Korean commandos found in South Korean waters 1998 July - Dead North Korean frogman found on South Korean coast 1998 December - South Korean navy sinks North Korean spy vessel 1999 June - 30 North Korean sailors believed killed in naval battle The incident has come as a shock in South Korea, which has been in festive mood as it co-hosts football's World Cup. The United Nations border monitoring force has called on the two sides to hold urgent talks on the incident. US General Leon LaPorte, who commands 37,000 American troops stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea, warned that the attack could have serious repercussions. "This provocative act by North Korea is a serious violation of the Armistice Agreement and could have serious implications in many areas," he said. Border dispute The incident has shocked South Korea which was celebrating the World Cup The 20-minute battle took place on Saturday morning, in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of the Korean peninsula. North Korea does not recognise the border, which was unilaterally imposed by the UN after the Korean War ended in 1953. South Korean officials say a warning signal was given after two North Korean patrol vessels escorting fishing boats crossed the Northern Limit Line. They say a North Korean vessel then started shooting and South Korean Navy ships returned fire.              Printer-friendly version Click here to be added to our mailing list.