North Korea shelling populated South Korean Island

[markevens]

This is not good.

SEOUL—North Korea fired artillery rockets at South Korea's Yeonpyeong island near a disputed maritime border Tuesday, setting houses on fire in its small villages, and prompting the south to return fire and dispatch fighter jets to the area.

Two Koreas exchange fire across maritime border | Reuters

[Sailor]

It is really difficult to see any logic in the actions of North Korea. Looks like the last socialistic state of the world tries to dig blood of its own nose.
However i think it will settle down as has happened so many times before.

Sometimes small crises tend to escalate but i do not think it will happen this time. If i does, then it is soon no fun for all of us.

I'm sorry for those who have to suffer for the ideas of few lunatics.

[BKratchmer]

I feel desperately for the people of South Korea, but I am hoping on everything I believe about human nature that their leaders recognize this as the actions of an irrational man, and let it go by without escalation... I fear that Kim Jung-Ill has little that ties him to this world, and that he may be eager for a justification to play with some of his "toys."

[Bruno]

Otoh, I have also heard that the South Koreans were holding a military exercise in a contested border area. So that would make it provoked.

Not taking sides here, and I acknowledge that Kim Jong Il is indeed a wacko, but it is entirely possible that this is not an unprovoked attack.

[Stubear]

The particular island where this happened has long been a sore point between the two countries.

As I recall it stems from the fact that the North refuses to recognise the unilateral border that was drawn by the UN after the 1950-53 Korean War.

The other problem is that the North is claiming they have new uranium enrichment facilities and have also just appointed Kim Jon Il's son as successor, so they are looking to flex their muscles a bit I suspect.

At the same time the South doesnt help because they were allegedly holding military exercises near the border.

I just hope that the South doesnt react with a knee jerk reaction because then the whole situation might kick off. I dont think they will as they are much more in touch with the whole "diplomatic" thing, but the whole region is a powder keg at the moment.

Very worrying.

[Fbones24]

Otoh, I have also heard that the South Koreans were holding a military exercise in a contested border area. So that would make it provoked.

I do not see how firing rockets into a civilian inhabited island is a justified response for a military exercise near the border. The South Korean military should be able to hold exercises and stay prepared. An appropriate response would have been North Korean military exercises of their own near the border.

As far as I am concerned, this still qualifies as an unprovoked attack by my estimation.

[Bruno]

It matters because the territory is contested and holding military exercises in such areas, especially with preexisting tensions is comparable to walking up to Mike Tyson, and yelling 'Hey ****face, your mother reeks of elderberries'.

While it would be technically against the laws for him to punch your head from your torso, it would not exactly be unprovoked or unexpected, right?

[Fbones24]

It matters because the territory is contested and holding military exercises in such areas, especially with preexisting tensions is comparable to walking up to Mike Tyson, and yelling 'Hey ****face, your mother reeks of elderberries'.

While it would be technically against the laws for him to punch your head from your torso, it would not exactly be unprovoked or unexpected, right?

Actually, wrong. Screaming and insulting someone does not warrant being beaten physically. Mike Tyson would be perfectly within his right to yell back and hurl his own insults. In fact, in the eyes of the law, in your example, Mike Tyson would be arrested for criminal assault and could be sued civilly for battery.

I do understand your point, but I question how "exercises" equates to "bombing."

[Bruno]

I am not saying it isn't wrong. I said it should not be unexected.
And such exercises in disputed territory are almost always held to test the reactions of the other side. If no reaction, then a de facto military presence can be established.

Also, you'll note that the territory is constested. SK has said that it belongs to them, and NK does not agree. So from their pov it is an invasion.

[Fbones24]

Understood. I guess a better conclusion on my part would have been that the provocation did not justify this type or reaction.