http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/2...dex.html?hpt=T1

 

In a sharp escalation of hostility along their disputed sea border, North Korean and South Korean forces traded fire Tuesday, a deadly skirmish that jacked up diplomatic tensions in a volatile region.

 

Two South Korean marines were killed and 15 South Korean soldiers and civilians were wounded when the North fired about 100 rounds of artillery at Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, South Korea authorities said, according to the South Korean Yonhap news agency.

 

South Korea's military responded with more than 80 rounds of artillery and deployed fighter jets to counter the fire, defense officials said.

 

Firing between the two sides lasted for about an hour in the Yellow Sea, a longstanding flashpoint between the two Koreas. In March, a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, was sunk in the area with the loss of 46 lives in a suspected North Korean torpedo attack.

 

"Restraint should be exercised on both sides," said Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special envoy on North Korean denuclearization. He was in Beijing to discuss nuclear matters and spoke to reporters.

 

In some ways, you wish the succession in North Korea was complete. Because we would probably have a clearer idea of what we are dealing with. Is the new regime going to be hell bent on provocation and war? Or is this just trying to show strength to maintain strength of leadership in the ruling family?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/2...dex.html?hpt=T1

 

 

 

In some ways, you wish the succession in North Korea was complete. Because we would probably have a clearer idea of what we are dealing with. Is the new regime going to be hell bent on provocation and war? Or is this just trying to show strength to maintain strength of leadership in the ruling family?

Or NK is tired of having the world respond to their nuclear stuff with a collective yawn.

 

Or NK is tired of having the world respond to their nuclear stuff with a collective yawn.

 

More likely they are running out of oil and food again, and are looking for someone to bribe them again to stop.

It really could be any of these things. There are a lot of internal tensions within North Korea's government from what I understand, so it could be one of these three or a combination of all of them.

Just to play Devil's advocate, any chance that this is just a mistake of the sort that happens when you have thousands of guns lined up and pointed at populated areas for periods of decades?

No.

Who's running North Korea these days. Kim Jong-il or Kim Jong-un?

Who's running North Korea these days. Kim Jong-il or Kim Jong-un?

A little bit of column A... A little bit of column B.

 

The state is in transition.

I've seen a picture or two of Kim Jong-un, but has there been any interviews with or speeches by him?

My gut says this is the North trying to provoke the south into attacking so the NK government can say on all their state run media how evil south korea is.

My gut says this is the North trying to provoke the south into attacking so the NK government can say on all their state run media how evil south korea is.

I doubt it. First, the NK government already does that constantly, they don't need an attack to do it. Second, while they want the new gov't to look tough, they don't want an SK attack while the transition is going on.

 

Hours after North Korea's deadly artillery attacks Tuesday, South Korea's president said "enormous retaliation" is needed to stop Pyongyang's incitement

They need full body scanners and enhanced pat downs.

Every once in a while the problems there seem bigger, sometimes smaller. I don't have a good feeling about this.

They need full body scanners and enhanced pat downs.

Every once in a while the problems there seem bigger, sometimes smaller. I don't have a good feeling about this.

 

My fried just moved to Seoul. I'm very worried about this.