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Concerns over the Sinking of the South Korean Naval Ship?
I'm wondering what KBC members feel about the recent sinking of a ROK naval vessel.
What are your thoughts and concerns? Please share and comment.
Media notes...
South Korea is scrambling to locate at least 46 South Korean military personnel missing after a one of the South's naval patrol vessels sank in a tense maritime area disputed by North Korea. Seoul is investigating what caused the incident, but holding off for now on blaming the North.
South Korean officials say rescuing sailors remains their top priority. One hundred four South Korean navy personnel were on board the patrol ship in waters west of the Korean peninsula Friday night when it was apparently damaged by an explosion and sank.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called an emergency meeting of top security officials Saturday, for the second time in a 12-hour period. South Korean authorities say they are investigating "all possibilities" as to why the ship went down, including the scenario that the ship was attacked by North Korea.
The incident occurred near South Korea's Baekryoung island, next to what is called the Northern Limit Line - a maritime border drawn by the United Nations at the signing of an armistice that paused the 1950s Korean War.
North Korea has challenged the legitimacy of the border, and the two sides have fought at least three naval skirmishes in the area in the past 11 years.
Still, South Korean officials are downplaying the notion the ship was attacked by North Korea - in part, because the incident occurred southwest of Baekryoung island, deep in South Korean waters.
Carl Baker, a Korean security specialist and director of Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu, agrees a North Korean role seems unlikely.
"You know, it looks to me like it was a naval accident, an unfortunate naval accident, that happened. I mean, it just seems like it was an explosion on the ship. And I'm just kind of skeptical about it being a North Korean attack or something," said Baker.
Baker says the timing of such an attack would be strange, given recent reports of a possible upcoming visit to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the possible resumption of talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
"If it is... a North Korean attack, it would signal something kind of strange that isn't consistent with all the other news going on at this point," said Baker.
North Korea is also seeking to relieve the pressure international sanctions has put on its sputtering economy - in part, by asking South Korea for a renewal of economic joint projects. Some analysts believe a military attack would contradict those efforts.
South Korean officials say rescuing sailors remains their top priority. One hundred four South Korean navy personnel were on board the patrol ship in waters west of the Korean peninsula Friday night when it was apparently damaged by an explosion and sank.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called an emergency meeting of top security officials Saturday, for the second time in a 12-hour period. South Korean authorities say they are investigating "all possibilities" as to why the ship went down, including the scenario that the ship was attacked by North Korea.
The incident occurred near South Korea's Baekryoung island, next to what is called the Northern Limit Line - a maritime border drawn by the United Nations at the signing of an armistice that paused the 1950s Korean War.
North Korea has challenged the legitimacy of the border, and the two sides have fought at least three naval skirmishes in the area in the past 11 years.
Still, South Korean officials are downplaying the notion the ship was attacked by North Korea - in part, because the incident occurred southwest of Baekryoung island, deep in South Korean waters.
Carl Baker, a Korean security specialist and director of Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu, agrees a North Korean role seems unlikely.
"You know, it looks to me like it was a naval accident, an unfortunate naval accident, that happened. I mean, it just seems like it was an explosion on the ship. And I'm just kind of skeptical about it being a North Korean attack or something," said Baker.
Baker says the timing of such an attack would be strange, given recent reports of a possible upcoming visit to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the possible resumption of talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
"If it is... a North Korean attack, it would signal something kind of strange that isn't consistent with all the other news going on at this point," said Baker.
North Korea is also seeking to relieve the pressure international sanctions has put on its sputtering economy - in part, by asking South Korea for a renewal of economic joint projects. Some analysts believe a military attack would contradict those efforts.
Replies to This Discussion | 이 토론에 대한 답글들
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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on -
If it turns out to have been an accident, then the story will end soon. But if North Korea attacked the ship, you have to think the South will have to respond. If that happens, we'll have a big story on our hands that could last awhile.
I'm not a North Korea expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't understand Carl Baker's opinion in the article that a North Korean role seems unlikely. As the event occurred in the same area as other encounters with North Korea, it seems extremely likely to me that North Korea is behind the sinking.
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Permalink Reply by Don Southerton on -
It was interesting when the first reports of the sinking surfaced( no pun intended). Reaction on Twitter among the Korean American/ Korean community was great alarm and deep concern this would escalate. As I watched media coverage unfold, news shifted to reporting the sinking was an accident. Still Chosun Ilbo notes that the K government is not ruling out NK involvement, which follows their hard line position towards the North.
Regardless, it's a tragedy.
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Permalink Reply by Don Southerton on
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Even more bad news.
South Korea Cheonan warship sinking: Diver dies during rescue efforts
Strong currents frustrated rescue efforts for 46 sailors thought to be trapped on the sunken South Korea Cheonan warship, dimming their hopes for survival.
Seoul, South Korea
Efforts to enter the hull of the sunken South Korea Cheonan warship were foiled Tuesday by strong underwater currents, dimming hope for the survival of the 46 sailors thought to be trapped inside.
Divers worked throughout the day to no avail trying to gain access to the Cheonan, a Navy corvette that was blown in two Friday night in a mysterious explosion and now sits 40 meters under water. Fifty-eight other sailors were pulled from the ship as it sank near the disputed Yellow Sea border with North Korea.
An estimate for when survivors inside the broken ship would run out of air passed Monday night, but rescuers were continuing to pump oxygen inside the vessel, hoping to extend the window.
One South Korean rescue diver died aboard a US Navy ship after having difficulty breathing, the BBC reported. A spokesman for US Forces Korea could not immediately be reached to confirm. The USNS Salvor, a salvage ship, was in the area to aid the rescue effort.
As the rescue effort entered its fifth day, politicians began to raise questions about the nation’s response to the tragedy.
A floating crane that could lift the stern of the 1,200-ton vessel, where most of the sailors are believed to be trapped, was not dispatched until Monday and likely won’t arrive at the site of the wreckage until the weekend.
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Permalink Reply by Blair A on -
First of all, Its a sad situation overall and I sympathise for the families of the victims.
I have been living in Korea on and off for years, so I have become somewhat desensitised to such events. And while there is still a chance of NK involvement, it seems that an old mine may have been the cause of the explosion.
"I'm not a North Korea expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't understand Carl Baker's opinion in the article that a North Korean role seems unlikely. As the event occurred in the same area as other encounters with North Korea, it seems extremely likely to me that North Korea is behind the sinking."
While I also agree with this, and I myself am no expert on NK matters, I think that if NK was responsible for the attack that they wouldn't be so low key about it. But I guess only time will tell. And whether or not the truth ever really comes out is another issue.
Personally I'm more concerned about any remaining survivors, the rescuers, and victim's Families, than any type escalation between the North and South.
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Permalink Reply by Kent Wong on -
It's incredible that they showed live coverage of the ship being raised from the sea on national television.
According to latest news reports, there's a suggestion that an old Korean War mine might be to blame.
Let's hope NK had no involvement.
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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on
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I saw that CNN article too mentioning the old Korean War mine today, but I think they are misinformed about the government's opinion on the cause.
From what I'm gathering, North Korean involvement seems to be the leading theory at the moment in the Korean media.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Choi on -
This is an unfortunate incident. I honestly hope that this is just an unfortunate accident. If it turns out that NK attacked the ship, this will not be pretty.
Will there ever be world peace? :(
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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on
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Last year the death of President Roh caused one of the spring festivals in Ansan to be cancelled: the "Barley Field Festival". In 2008, the city had planted a field of barley at one of the parks and people spent the day out walking through it and remembering the "Korea of old". It was a nice way to spend a couple hours on a weekend but last year everything nationwide was getting cancelled after the former President's death (also, the flu epidemic didn't help things either.)
Now, the sinking of the Cheonan naval vessel has taken another festival casualty: the Ansan International Street Arts Festival. I just took this photo this morning:
[Translation]
"Considering the atmosphere in society caused by the naval vessel sinking, this year's Ansan International Street Arts Festival is cancelled. We ask for the wide understanding of the citizens."
Well, bummer... I frankly wonder if this is just an excuse though because last year's event was not well attended... The idea had a lot of potential, but there were apparently administrative issues.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Park on -
From a cultural (koreanized confucianism) perspective, parties/festivals (opening a place/event for laughter and fun) are not welcome during formal periods of (sad/public) mourning. Another possible reason for the city's cancellation may be to dodge criticism from conservatists. You're absolutely right, however, and I agree. For whatever reason, the cancellation of this event/festival is a real bummer.
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Permalink Reply by Don Southerton on
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I agree. In the major Korea firms ( Hyundai, Samsung, etc) if there is a death in one of the Founder's Family--mothers, wives, etc.... evening diners and company celebrations are curtailed and toned down out of respect.
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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on
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Here's a recent article in the Economist discussing President Lee's options if it turns out North Korea was behind the sinking of the Cheonan:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15959...
I think what's most interesting to me is seeing the North Korean actions all of a sudden like this: (possibly) sinking the ship and then ignoring/denying it in this way, taking the Kumkang Mountain Resort assets, (possibly) preparing for another nuclear test and getting their assassins arrested in Seoul (well, this wasn't deliberate or timed, but still...). The next step seems to be for the South to shut down the Kaesung Factory Complex so the North can get those empty assets but without any means of making money off them... And then what? Where does that leave the North?
I don't get it.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Eberenz on -
The unfortunate reality of the situation is that North Korea seems to hang in the international spotlight by a tiny strand at any given moment, and the only way they get exposure is by making trouble. They don't want a war any more than the south does, but they won't get figures like Bill Clinton coming to negotiate hostage releases if they don't have hostages, the same way that they won't get to spread their exacerbated, archaic, and nationalistic campaign smears across CNN tickers if they don't keep the level of intensity high, as through the recent torpedo attack.
Until Korea embraces a path to prosperity that encourages economic growth and tolerance of it's people, this will remain the unfortunate truth of the peninsula.
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