The issues are serious. North Korea is belligerent enough to attack at any time - they have been for decades. The shelling of Yeonpyeong Island was only the latest of many incidents in the past that has irked the South into taking a more aggressive stance, and having the U.S. step in and actually have to talk with the North -- gives them mainly what they want the most -- attention.
A look at the major incidents in the just the last 10 years:
- n2001: On twelve separate occasions, North Korean vessels cross the Northern Limit Line and then withdraw.
- nNovember 27, 2001: North and South Korean forces exchange fire without injuries.
- nJune 29, 2002: Renewed naval clashes near the Northern Limit Line lead to the deaths of four South Korean sailors and the sinking of a North Korean vessel. The number of North Koreans killed is unknown.
- nNovember 16, 2002: South Korean forces fire warning shots on a Northern boat crossing the Northern Limit Line. The boat withdraws. The similar incident is repeated on November 20.
- nFebruary 19, 2003: A North Korean fighter plane crosses seven miles (11 km) south of the Northern Limit Line, and returns north after being intercepted by six South Korean planes.
- nMarch 2, 2003: Four North Korean fighter jets intercept a US reconnaissance plane over the Sea of Japan.
- nJuly 17, 2003: North and South Korean forces exchange fire at the DMZ around 6 AM. The South Korean army reports four rounds fired from the North and seventeen from the South. No injuries are reported.
- nNovember 1, 2004: North Korean vessels, claiming to be in pursuit of illegal fishing craft, cross the Northern Limit Line and are fired upon by the South. The vessels withdraw 3 hours later.
- nJuly 30, 2006: Several rounds are exchanged near a South Korean post in Yanggu, Gangwon.
- nNovember 10, 2009: Naval vessels from the two Koreas exchanged fire in the area of the NLL, reportedly causing serious damage to a North Korean patrol ship.
- nMarch 26, 2010: A South Korean naval vessel, the ROKS Cheonan, was sunk by an explosion near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea. A rescue operation recovered 58 survivors but 46 sailors were killed.
- nNovember 23, 2010: North Korea fired artillery at South Korea's Big Yeonpyeong island in the Yellow Sea and South Korea returned fire. Two South Korean marines and two South Korean civilians were killed.
The media in the South hasn't shyed away from discussing the incident at Yeonpyeong-do, or the 2 training exercises that followed - the most recent being yesterday (and both in undisputed South Korean territory). Obviously is it newsworthy, however, I feel that the way the U.S. media portrays the events are decieving. Most of the news I have seen seems aimed at scaring people - and fear brings in ratings.
Look at these U.S headlines:
They all pertain to violence and war and most have photos or video of military equipment and personnel in action.....scary yet strangly cool. I wish I knew more about psychology in the media.
On most of these news stations, this sort of thing plays in the background while the commentators and pundits rattle off how dire things are
(The video is eerie if you ask me - but fascinating at the same time)
The South Korean media is less dramatic in it's stories, but still tries to make the situation seem moreso.
Remarkably, the latest headlines in South Korea haven't been as much about the military drills that took place this week, as they have been about the outbreak of FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease - "Mad Cow Disease") in Gangwon province.
I suppose war is scary - but eating tainted meat is even more so.
(Koreans are very proud of their beef!)
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