Seoul resumes psychological warfare with Pyongyang

first escalation?

Next, NK launch a few missiles to show their teeth.

NK is not stupid. The soldiers around the border are the one inclined to flee NK.

They'll need a hell of big billboards and loudspeakers to target a few more hundred meters.

Didn't the NK say they will shoot at billboards and loudspeakers?

I have two comments:

1)I hope ROK has more than torpedo debris to show the UN. There is a need of evidence to show the DPRK has the hardware to avoid sonar detection (if it was a submarine). The evidence released to the media is not enough as of today.

2) If this incident flares up into a shooting war, the ROK can kiss the G20 meeting this fall goodbye.

They'll need a hell of big billboards and loudspeakers to target a few more hundred meters.

Well, from what they showed on tv, if they would put these speakers in the middle of Tokyo, you'd be able to hear it as far away as Tokyo Disney Land.

desmosedici: Wow. A hell of a rave. Kim is providing the ecstasy? Pyonyang is just a bit further north. A hell of a bit...

Koreans are a persisitent and stubborn bunch at the best of times. anyone who sees a rational outcome to this ridiculous "civil war" is likely to be disappointed.

Next they will start singing, "I'm a Seoul Man"

Few people is going to complain if SK cross the border and retaliate the Cheonan incident by killing north koreans soldiers. Encourage north koreans soldiers in the border to desert to the south and live free, is far more human.

If the G20 Meeting is canceled, the APEC Forum 2010 in Yokohama would take on greater importance to stabilize the region.

G20 Meeting won't be canceled.

Ah, psychological warfare. The dear leader must be shivering in his boots.

"Those measures will cost North Korea about $200 million a year" - Hit 'em where it hurts.

We've been hearing about Kim's +1 million strong military for years and years now. I would say about 25% of these soldiers are over the age of 60. They are hungry (pun intended) for war and they are going to go at it with an all or nothing mentality.

And the faint beats of Gagas Bad Romance could be heard coming from the 38th parallel....

Worldcup for koreas goes to Lee Myung Bak or Kim Jong il??

South korea versus north korea at worldcup2010,who wins??

Kim jong il and his father have in power much longer anyone else in koreas.

Next South korea elections Lee Myung Bak,may lose.

All war support linked leaders ,are now out of power,Bush,Blair and Brown.

Obama only trying his best,to end war of Bush era.

Kim jong il's north korea is only about military first policy. North korea managed to qualify for worldcup2010 and promote sport. This good sign for north korea in sports. North women soccer,also is very good,in fact better than men team.

correction..Kim jong il and his father,have been in power much longer than anyone else in koreas.

wow seriously childish from south korea also

Shouldn't this be like... THE NEWS story? Everyone else is headlining with it, Japan Inc lost 3.1% and South Korea Ltd 2.7%, the North is saying it will shell any broadcast station and has put it's military on alert...

Looks like it is almost time again, My Yuri prediction is the North will attack the South and in less than three days the South will counterattack into the North. The North does not have a chance in the next conflict. A starving ill equipped Army is going against a well fed modern army. The only question is China.

apecNetworks at 04:45 PM JST - 25th May I have two comments: 1)I hope ROK has more than torpedo debris to show the UN. There is a >need of evidence to show the DPRK has the hardware to avoid sonar >detection (if it was a submarine). The evidence released to the media is >not enough as of today.

I've asked you this before but could you please provide evidence supporting your contention that NKorea was not responsible? How can anyone verify whether NKOrea actually has or does not have specific submarine technology unless the NKOreans open their doors for inspection and cooperation? The evidence released to the media, and undoubtedly some not released has been sufficient for the UN to commence an investigation into wheryher NKorea has broken the truce agreement.

2) If this incident flares up into a shooting war, the ROK can kiss the >G20 meeting this fall goodbye

They could conceivably kiss alot more goodbye than the G20 meeting. But at least there would no longer be a DPRK after that.

xpompey8 at 06:42 PM JST - 25th May We've been hearing about Kim's +1 million strong military for years and >years now. I would say about 25% of these soldiers are over the age of >60. They are hungry (pun intended) for war and they are going to go at >it with an all or nothing mentality.

The other 75% are malnourished kim-worshipping zombies who stand about the height of a South Korean soldier's shoulders. +1 million strong cannon fodder.

YuriOtani at 11:37 PM JST - 25th May The only question is China.

I don't agree with your prediction. But even if I did, NKorea can never stat a war with SKorea without China's permission. Even Kim Il Sung didn't dare start the Korean War without Stalin and Mao's support. Today's China has way too much invested in it's relations with SKorea, Japan, United States, etc.

"YuriOtani:in less than three days the South will counterattack into the North" I don't think so. The rich people is usually afraid of death, but the poor has nothing to lose. I believe NK can take Seoul in one week if all big guys, i.e. the US; Russia & China, Stay outside of Korea.

yosun at 01:34 AM JST - 26th May I don't think so. The rich people is usually afraid of death, but the poor has nothing to lose. I believe NK can take Seoul in one week if all big guys, i.e. the US; Russia & China, Stay outside of Korea.

Nonsense. NK's army is as impotent and nearly as ill-equipped as Iraq's was at the time of the U.S. invasion, except for it's missile systems, which makes up for what it lacks in quality with quantity.

Seoul does not need U.S. help in the least.

YuriOtani at 11:37 PM JST - 25th May . . . My Yuri prediction is the North will attack the South and in less than three days the South will counterattack into the North. The North does not have a chance in the next conflict. A starving ill equipped Army is going against a well fed modern army.

The problem is Seoul's (and Japan's) proximity to the DMZ. If the NK decide to launch what will essentially be a suicide attack, in the sense that the regime will not last a full-on engagement with SK, they might decide to terror bomb everything in missile range. Not even a combined preemptive strike by SK, the US and Japan could destroy every NK missile site.

The only question is China.

Yes. They could have put this to rest years ago, but chose to maintain what is essentially a puppet regime as a thorn in the region's side.

My guess is the North is going to attack on July 27; The day StarCraft 2 is released. :P

Then they case relocate the Futenma base in NK.

TumbleDry at 05:53 PM JST - 25th May G20 Meeting won't be canceled.

It may not be canceled, but definately relocated if war conditions persists. Unless you have undisclosed info on the true nature of the situation at hand.

Yokohama would have the security setup to accomodate a makeshift G20 since APEC is scheduled, and would receive the perspectives of the region in one shot.

The ball is in the ROK court at the moment.

Just thought I add an oft quoted phrase used by former House Speaker Tip O'Neil - "all politics is local". This would be relevant to APEC.

To OssanAmerica:

OssanAmerica at 12:41 AM JST - 26th May

"apecNetworks at 04:45 PM JST - 25th May I have two comments: 1)I hope ROK has more than torpedo debris to show the UN. There is a >need of evidence to show the DPRK has the hardware to avoid sonar >detection (if it was a submarine). The evidence released to the media is >not enough as of today.

I've asked you this before but could you please provide evidence supporting your contention that NKorea was not responsible? How can anyone verify whether NKOrea actually has or does not have specific submarine technology unless the NKOreans open their doors for inspection and cooperation? The evidence released to the media, and undoubtedly some not released has been sufficient for the UN to commence an investigation into wheryher NKorea has broken the truce agreement.

2) If this incident flares up into a shooting war, the ROK can kiss the >G20 meeting this fall goodbye

They could conceivably kiss alot more goodbye than the G20 meeting. But at least there would no longer be a DPRK after that."

The Obama Administration is following the "Axis of Evil" Foreign Policy paradigm of the Bush Administration. The same push for UN action. Sec. Powell didn't have the REAL conclusive evidence, and neither does Sec. Clinton. Now, whether these countries are "evil" is another topic, but the PHS 32 sonar is still the key question - that question would take toooooo much time for the US.

You have to remember, I was receiving highest level intelligence from the horse's mouth just prior to implementation in the mid 1990's. And, that modus operandi can not and will not change in the US.

Um, I hope people are not so ignorant as to think loudspeakers are a new and untested idea. They've done this for a very long time and only stopped during the sunshine policy era. Those loudspeakers go beyond 10 kilometers especially on a clear night. Many defectors have attested to hearing these broadcasts and others. So if you're going to open your mouth as some expert on loudspeakers, get your facts right.

The north is obviously not going to attack if you know even the first thing about how often they threaten total war. The last time they threatened sacred war was 6 months ago last November. They do this every 1-2 years over the smallest issues, let alone the recent one. Get a clue folks.

I agree with bdiego's views. North korea and south korean sea battles. Battle of daechong nov 2009,possibly 10 north korean casualties. 1st battle of yeonpyeong June 1999 ,30 north korean casulaties and no south korean casualties.

2nd battle of yeonpyeong june 2002 casualties 16 south koreans and 13 north koreans. Latest incident with March 2010 battle, casualties 46 south koreans. There will not be any big attacks,more likely more small sea battles possibly.

Both sides very military first in policies,they need issues to keep military and military industrial complex of pro-USA and pro-Russia-China-NK busy.

To OssanAmerica:

I can tell that YOU really want to know what the heck is goin' on. It's pretty simple at the geopolitical level, and the US is HEAVILY invested in this. It's simple and predictable, but it is "classified". One would need to be a specialist in international politics.

Hypothesis: Pres. Obama does not know the overall plan because of his background as a social activist and attorney/senator. He knows this is being backed by a heck of alot of foreign policy experts, and he is goin' along. VP Biden may know, but this is a real secret. It is like a movie, and Afghanistan is the key.

This time we will see if Kim is truly nuts or just full of bullshit. I suspect that China will be the one to cover for Kim being ready to only spew out crap instead of being serious about a real conflict. I could be totally wrong this could be the beginning of a war to settle what was unsettled in the past. I hope Clinton can get the Chinese to give up some intel on this matter. I think they have the best access to the information that would let us know the real situation at present. All I want to know is whether all this positioning is just fodder or whether things actually are just a spark away from a flare-up.