A Little Clash of Temperament
A skirmish between North and South Korean Navy ships flared up Tuesday morning in the Yellow, or West, Sea, raising tensions as the region awaits US President Barack Obama’s first trip to Asia since he took office.
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North Korea has repeatedly rejected the legitimacy of the border and often stated its right to enter the waters south of it. On occasion it has vowed to fight for its claim.
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The attack may have been timed to precede Mr. Obama’s arrival Friday in Tokyo on a trip that will take him from there to Singapore, Shanghai, and Beijing before arriving here late next week. North Korea’s nuclear program will be on the agenda at every stop.
No, it has nothing to do with Pyongyang’s contention that the southern terminus of the Northern Limit Line is more southern than Seoul recognizes. All activity in Pyongyang happens in coordination with a diplomatic calendar in Kim Jong-il’s luxuy train. Brainwashed Norks can only do this wacky things because there’s a transmitter than emanates from the Dear leader to each sailor’s brain, not because every officer and sailor believes the ROK Navy is invading sovereign waters. That’s the nature, and nuisance, that’s a dispute. More is going on than just Obama.
Based on the presence of Chinese fishing boats working in the area at the time of the North Korean patrol boat’s southward journey, observers are saying the boat likely crossed the NLL while cracking down on illegal fishing activity. A South Korean government official said that this incident was different from previous cases because the North Korean vessel continued traveling south despite warning broadcasts.
But our South Korean sieve failed to mention a change in ROKN protocol
In contrast on Tuesday, the South Korean patrol boat issued a warning shot immediately after moving and communicated a warning message. In response, the North Korean vessel took a precision shot and in turn, South Korea took a precision shot. Since 2004, when the rules of engagement were set, three to six warning shots have been exchanged per year, and these shots are the first that have taken place this year. Observers suggest the new rules of engagement curtail steps that could prevent clashes from escalating.
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Observers are saying this incident was made possible in an atmosphere in which the South Korean navy feels no resolve to avoid battles with the North Korean navy. In response to the South Korean government’s announcement made earlier in the year about its decision to fully participate in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), North Korea had said it could no longer guarantee the safe passage of U.S. and South Korean naval ships or civilian shipping vessels in neighboring waters. In response, Chung Ok-geun, then-Chief of naval operations ordered naval soldiers not to avoid battle and said, “If the enemy hurts one of our fingers, we should respond by cutting its wrist.”
So, no I’m not blaming the South Koreans. I’m arguing that there’s a real dispute, and Don Kirk, et al need to report on the ROK navy when these events occur, not President Obama. Speculating about the big boys in the government is really hard – and state business seems to bring out the worst in the academic commentariat – so it would be best to start small.
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