Tuesday - October 10, 2006

Far East On Short Fuse

Uh-oh! Things are now starting to get a little bit out of hand in the Far East. It seems everyone is on pins and needles today as North Korea stepped up the saber-rattling and threatened to fire a nuclear missile - target not specified.

Even the Red Chinese are nervous. They have now decided to back off protecting the NoKo madman and are ready to smack “Dear Leader” with anything short of military action. Chinese and South Korean troops have had their leaves cancelled and everyone is on high alert. The Japanese are nervously watching developments and the UN is feverishly working to do what it usually does ... absolutely nothing substantial.

The US started withdrawing troops from South Korea two years ago and transferring them to Iraq. By my estimate, there are probably less than 28,000 US troops left to help the South Koreans if Kim Dung Ill goes crazy and starts a war.

Hold on to your hats, kids. Another member of the Axis of Evil is about to get the living crap kicked out of them unless the ChiComs can bring enough pressure to bear to avoid a bloodbath. Speaking of pressure ... I wonder where the Seventh Fleet is right about now ... ?

N. Korea Threatens to Fire Nuclear Missile If U.S. Won’t Commit to Talks
_{SEOUL, South Korea (FOX NEWS) - Tuesday, October 10, 2006}

North Korea stepped up its threats aimed at Washington, saying it could fire a nuclear-tipped missile unless the United States acts to resolve its standoff with Pyongyang, the Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday from Beijing.

Even if Pyongyang is confirmed to have nuclear weapons, experts say it’s unlikely the North has a bomb design small and light enough to be mounted atop a missile. Their long-range missile capability also remains in question, after a test rocket in July apparently fizzled out shortly after takeoff.

“We hope the situation will be resolved before an unfortunate incident of us firing a nuclear missile comes,” Yonhap quoted an unidentified North Korean official as saying. “That depends on how the U.S. will act.”

The official said the nuclear test was “an expression of our intention to face the United States across the negotiating table,” reported Yonhap, which didn’t say how or where it contacted the official, or why no name was given.

China’s patience with its longtime ally North Korea appeared to be wearing thin as Beijing warned Pyongyang that its staging of a nuclear test would harm the two countries’ relations. Fears of a new regional nuclear arms race eased when Japan’s leader said his nation still had no intention of seeking atomic weapons.

North Korea celebrated a holiday Tuesday marking the 61st anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. There was no traffic across a key bridge on a border river between China and North Korea.

China Urges UN Action On North Korea
_{(BBC) - Tuesday, 10 October 2006, 12:20 GMT 13:20 UK}

China has called for “appropriate” UN action over North Korea’s claim to have carried out a nuclear test on Monday. Beijing - traditionally Pyongyang’s closest ally - said it had not ruled out UN sanctions but that military action was “unimaginable”. The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that proposes strict financial and trade sanctions.

The US ambassador to the UN said while the US would not rule out using force, it was seeking a diplomatic solution. The South Korean Prime Minister, Han Myung-sook, said Seoul would not support a resolution including a threat of military force.

Russia, which like China has resisted sanctions in the past, has said it is “ready to take part in joint efforts of the interested parties to arrive at a peaceful, diplomatic settlement of the situation”.

The response of China - the country that holds the most influence over the isolated regime - is seen by many analysts to be key in moving the crisis forward. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said: “This will no doubt have a negative impact on China and North Korea’s relations.”

He said the UN should take “appropriate action” but added that China was still considering the nature of that action. However, when asked what China thought of the possibility of military action, Mr Liu told a news conference: “I think this is an unimaginable way.”

North Korea’s neighbours remain tense in the wake of Monday’s announcement. China has reportedly cancelled leave for troops along part of its border with the North, and South Korean forces have been ordered to stay alert.

Posted by The Skipper     on 10/10/2006 at 07:43 AM   
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