As you know, this blog is a way for me to keep all my friends and family back home in the loop, as well as a way for me to historically document my life here in Korea. So, with that said, I'm cutting and pasting this article into my blog to remind me of this moment in time:
"North Korea attacked South Korea's Yeonpyeong island in the Yellow Sea yesterday (with 100 individual bombs). It was the first time they had attacked their southern neighbor on land since the Korean War. The attack came on the first day of the South Korean military exercises that North Korea had pledged to retaliate against.
At least 100 rounds fell on Yeonpyeong, which houses a military complex and is home to some 1,600 residents, according to the Yonhap
"North Korea's indiscriminate artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island is a clear military provocation on the Republic of Korea," Hong Sang-pyo, senior secretary for public affairs at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, said in a statement. "Furthermore, recklessly shelling against civilians can never be tolerated."
The US options are limited, and the Obama administration most likely needs to proceed carefully. Restraint could be interpreted as weakness by the North Korean regime. Too harsh a response after the North Korean attack could lead to further crisis. President Barack Obama was awakened before 4 a.m. by a call from National Security Advisor Tom Donilon to brief him on the Korean artillery exchange.
The United States condemned North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island on Tuesday but said it was too soon to discuss ways the U.S. military might deter the reclusive state from another strike.
At least 100 rounds fell on Yeonpyeong, which houses a military complex and is home to some 1,600 residents, according to the Yonhap
"North Korea's indiscriminate artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island is a clear military provocation on the Republic of Korea," Hong Sang-pyo, senior secretary for public affairs at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, said in a statement. "Furthermore, recklessly shelling against civilians can never be tolerated."
The US options are limited, and the Obama administration most likely needs to proceed carefully. Restraint could be interpreted as weakness by the North Korean regime. Too harsh a response after the North Korean attack could lead to further crisis. President Barack Obama was awakened before 4 a.m. by a call from National Security Advisor Tom Donilon to brief him on the Korean artillery exchange.
The United States condemned North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island on Tuesday but said it was too soon to discuss ways the U.S. military might deter the reclusive state from another strike.
In response to the attack, the South Korean military fired more than 80 rounds into North Korea and launched fighter jets. The exchange of artillery lasted about an hour."
My co-workers do seem a tad bit worried today, but most of them feel that it was a political show by general (Kim Jong Un - Kim Jong Il's son) to show his new power to the world. As you may or may not know, he was recently promoted to militrary general.
Let's just hope the show is over!
Let's just hope the show is over!
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