North Korea has declared their intention to "completely nullify" a naval agreement with South Korea, designed to prevent accidental skirmishes along the disputed West (Yellow) Sea border known as the Northern Limit Line.
While continuing threats to fire on any loudspeakers broadcasting anti-DPRK propaganda, and indicating that they would shut down the joint-run Kaesong industrial complex, the North awaits nervously the anti-submarine drills the US and South Korea are preparing for the West Sea today.
As the world awaits China's response, speculation abounds trying to guess what, and when, any response will come from China. CNN hints at an announcement coming this weekend, but the smart money says that the issue will remain unresolved at least for another week, awaiting the mysterious session of the People's Assembly, the North Korean Parliament, slated for June 7.
But to add some more confusion to the fray, Russia now demands "100% proof" that North Korea was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan. Statements provided by the Russian Navy imply that the investigation was neither "complete" nor "objective". What is more interesting is Russia's timing in declaring that they felt excluded from the proceedings.
Just as the world is pressing China to take some sort of stand, Russia comes up to remind everyone of its own veto power on the UN Security Council. Allies of the Hermit Kingdom seem to be stalling for time, awaiting the next shoe to drop, likely at the June 7 Assembly session. The DPRK has announced an "emergency press conference" to take place at the recently scheduled session, responding publicly to the "despicable plot" led by "ultra-conservative" factions in the South.
North Korea Responds
Through their national news agency, KCNA, they continue threats of "unimaginable, unlimited and devastating retaliatory blows", while referring to be "on the brink of explosion". While much focus is still on the South Korean leadership, with the North encouraging their southern countrymen to remove President Lee Myung-Bak from his leadership role, the DPRK takes additional shots at the US, as well as one parting shot at Japan.
Demanding the "withdrawal of US imperialists from South Korea", the DPRK accuses the US of wanting to "bring down the system" in the backwards country, and of using the situation to trick Japan into renewing the US presence in Okinawa. KCNA also takes the opportunity to remind Koreans of Japanese war crimes, trying to divide the various interested powers in the region, particularly with Japanese and Chinese leadership traveling to South Korea for scheduled talks.
Finally, the KCNA reminds its own people of their love for their "father", Kim Jong-Il, and his own father, Kim Il-Sung. Speaking of whom, they even posted a statement from the Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, lauding Kim Il-Sung, and the "successes made by the Korean people in their struggle against the US and imperialism", wishing them "greater success in the future".
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Other Source Articles
- http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/27/north-korea-china.html?ref=rss
- http://en.rian.ru/world/20100527/159179030.html
- http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/05/26/china.north.korea/index.html
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100526/ap_on_re_as/as_china_koreas_beijing_s_bind
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100526/ap_on_re_as/as_clinton_south_korea
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100527/ap_on_re_as/as_china_koreas_ship_sinks
- http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2010/201005/news26/20100526-09ee.html
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