South Korea seeks UN action against Pyongyang for sinking of warship

Source: Guardian

South Korea will take Pyongyang to the UN security council as part of measures it will pursue over the sinking of a warship blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack, officials said today.

An international team of investigators announced last week that a North Korean submarine had fired a homing torpedo on 26 March, tearing apart the 1,200-tonne Cheonan and killing 46 sailors on board. North Korea called the investigation results a fabrication and warned that any retaliation would trigger war.

South Korea's president, Lee Myung-bak, is to address the nation tomorrow on the "clear armed provocation" by North Korea and disclose his resolve to take "stern" action against the regime, according to his press adviser, Lee Dong-kwan.

The president will announce what measures South Korea plans to take against North Korea on its own and in co-operation with the international community, the adviser said.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/23/south-north-korea-un-cheonan

We can't even defeat Al Qaida. How could we possibly take on NK now?

North Korea has a capable military as well as nuclear weapons. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that they have the capability to fire on Seoul at pretty much any time. No doubt South Korea has missiles pointed back at them. The issue is that if we provoke North Korea too far, they're likely to use those nukes. We'd retaliate, most likely via tactical nuclear strike, but possibly not before our troops stationed on the border are taken out. It would be a disaster on a massive scale. We're obligated to assist South Korea, China is obligated to assist North Korea.

Yeah, we haven't done such a great job in the middle east. The difference here is that North Korea is actually a valid threat, mainly because they're backed by China.

It makes me think of the first world war. A large Nation backing a much smaller one, therefor the smaller Nation can antagonize almost to their contentment. It's a matter of how far either side can be pushed before it becomes a free for all. Ugly situation all around. South Korea shouldn't have to tolerate this attack though. Something must be done, and if the North leaves us no options but sanctions... which they've said they'll consider an act of war....

Kim Jung-Il, from my time living in Suwon, just south of Seoul, does not have nukes, but does have the capability of turning Seoul, Suwon, Yongin, Incheon and Daegu into ashes within minutes.

If he does make good on his threat, Seoul City Center, Incheon, Itaewon, Daegu and area around Kwanghamun station will be devestated.