Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: Die Welt- North Korean Belligerence Grows More Complicated

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Die Welt- North Korean Belligerence Grows More Complicated

A few hours before the expiry of an ultimatum to South Korea's leadership has drastically tightened their martial rhetoric in Pyongyang. It was ready for a "full-scale war" against the South, said the North Korean Foreign Ministry.

To 17.30 clock (10.30 clock CEST) Seoul to Pyongyang by the will of the border anti-communist loudspeaker announcements adjust. Done not so, would "a strong military retaliation" done, warned Deputy UN Ambassador At Myong Hun in New York. In addition, his country called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting. At 18.00 local time clock (11.00 clock CEST) meets a South Korean delegation in the North and the border town of Panmunjom negotiations.

Tensions and martial tones Pyongyang have become routine in this time of year, take place in the annual US-South Korean maneuvers. But this time the situation is complicated by a border incident in which two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured.

Anti-Communist slogans via loudspeakers

Seoul started then after eleven years break at the demilitarized zone again, play anticommunist can be answered quickly. Most recently, both sides had already artillery bombarded . According to South Korea of the North had fired first, to substantiate threats for the speakers.

On Friday let North Korean leader Kim Jong Un its border troops in a " quasi-state of warput "and caused quite another concern. As the official news agency KCNA reported, the front-line troops should keep ready for military operations from the evening.

South Korean reports on the relocation of North Korean military vehicles with short- and medium-range missiles have not been confirmed by the Department of Defense in Seoul. Given the tense situation, the United States stopped the maneuvers with South Korea - but only temporarily. Washington will continue to monitor the situation closely, said Pentagon representative David Shear.

No panic in South Korea

In South Korea 's threats seemed not to spread panic. The traffic was normal, most citizens went about their daily work to. North Korea also allowed on Saturday, more than 240 South Koreans access to the jointly operated industrial complex in the border town of Kaesong. However, South Korean security forces blocked access to the offices of tourist viewing platform Dora along the demilitarized zone.

Observers estimate now that an escalation because of the ultimatum can only be prevented if the south to the north is a way to save face. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern at the rising tensions between the two Koreas and called on the countries to enter into a dialogue to promote peace.