US SKorea warn against North Korean aggression
Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs declared Friday that any North Korean aggression "is not to be tolerated," following two deadly incidents last year, and pledged to jointly develop more effective means of responding to future provocations by the North.U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his South Korean counterpart, Kim Kwan-jin, told a news conference at the Ministry of Defense that they also decided to increase "combined watch activities" in advance of an international summit planned for Seoul next spring. They did not elaborate, but the statement appeared to mean they would boost intelligence gathering and surveillance.The two sides issued a joint statement reaffirming their solidarity and vigilance against a potential attack by the North."The minister and the secretary urged North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs," they said, and urged the North to "demonstrate its genuine will" to give up its nuclear ambitions through "concrete actions."U.S. and North Korean diplomats held talks this week in Geneva to explore a possible resumption of international negotiations over the North's nuclear program, but despite reports of modest progress there was no word on when additional discussions might be held.Earlier, Panetta expressed doubt that diplomacy will persuade North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons and he raised the prospect of stalemate leading to "escalation and confrontation."After daylong meetings with South Korea's government leaders, Panetta told reporters he was concerned by North Korea's pattern of deliberately shifting from periods of modest accommodation with the West to episodes of violent aggression, perhaps with no real intention of giving up its nuclear ambitions.Tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula, largely stemming from the North's deadly bombardment of a front-line South Korean island that killed four people in November. The South also holds the North culpable for the deaths of 46 sailors on a South Korean warship that sank in March last year.Asked whether he thinks a renewed effort by the Obama administration to explore a possible new round of international negotiations with North Korea will work, Panetta was blunt."We're not sure where those talks are headed at this point," he said, referring to the Geneva discussions North Korean diplomats,, where there was no apparent breakthrough."For that reason, I guess the word 'skepticism' would be in order," he said.The Pentagon chief said he believes, nonetheless, that efforts at a diplomatic solution must go on."On the one hand, we have to engage," he said. "We have to try to seek the hope that ultimately they'll do the right thing and join the international family of nations. ... But I think we always have to be cautious that at the same time, they're going to continue to develop their nuclear capability."In the same session with reporters, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Army Gen. J.D. Thurman, indicated that he suspects the North Koreans are determined to keep up the expansion of their nuclear capabilities."Based on what I have observed, they show a willingness to continue to develop and test capabilities that can be associated with their nuclear program," Thurman said. "This is something we've got to remain vigilant on."Separately, the State Department's top Asia policy official, Kurt Campbell, was in the South Korean capital on Thursday to brief officials on the Geneva talks.North Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement saying the talks "helped deepen each other's understanding." The statement said both sides agreed to further talks on whether to resume the international discussions involving North and South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.Panetta said China, a longtime North Korean ally, "can do more" to push North Korea to give up its nuclear program."There are moments when we think that they are urging North Korea to engage, but frankly I think China can do more to try to get North Korea to do the right thing," he added."I know that sometimes they make that effort and sometimes North Korea doesn't pay attention."Panetta's first visit to South Korea as defense secretary is part of a broader U.S. effort to shore up South Korea's confidence in a military alliance that has endured for six decades.Panetta met with the South Korean defense and foreign affairs chiefs and paid a courtesy call on President Lee Myung-bak.In parallel talks, the new chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, and top officers from the U.S. Pacific Command met with top South Korean military officers for an annual review of the U.S.-South Korean military alliance.Panetta has called the North "reckless" and a "serious threat" to peace on the Korean peninsula, which exploded in war in 1950 and drew the U.S. and other nations into a three-year conflict against the North and China.Panetta was asked by reporters what he thinks can be done to break a cycle of North Korean behavior in which it alternately makes gestures of accommodation to the West, followed by provocations."The cycle ultimately has to be broken," he said. "There is either going to be an accommodation where they decide to make the right decisions with regards to their future and join the international family of nations ... or, if they continue these provocations, then obviously that's going to lead to the possibility of escalation and confrontation."Among the maneuverings that influence U.S. thinking about the security threat posed by North Korea is the process now under way in which the supreme leader, Kim Jong Il, is expected to turn over the reins of power to his son, Kim Jong Un, a newly minted four-star general believed in his late 20s. He would be the third generation leader in a family dynasty that has ruled since Kim Il Sung founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.U.S. officials are unsure what timeline has been set for the leadership succession. But two senior American military officers in Seoul said it appears the process has slowed, possibly because Kim Jong Il's health problems seem to have eased. The officials spoke to a group of reporters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.U.S. and South Korean officials believe Kim Jong Il had a stroke in August 2008 that kept him out of the public eye for months.The officials, who are privy to the latest intelligence assessments, said North Korea's recently more accommodating approach to the U.S. is judged to be only a tactical maneuver likely to be followed next year by demands for concessions. That would follow a decades-long pattern in which unmet concessions lead to a period of provocations from North Korea, such as the 2006 nuclear test that came just months after the North cut off nuclear disarmament talks.The U.S. officials declined to say whether they believe the North can be persuaded to give up its nuclear weapons, but their analysis of the North's basic approach to the West strongly suggested that they do not expect it to change course.___Robert Burns can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/robertburnsAP
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• Springfield, United States•
For all their bluster and exaggerated military capabilities, North Korea could not fight its way out of a paper bag. The South Koreans could wipe the North Koreans off the face of the planet without US help. North Korea is no real threat because their military is using equipment that is so old it is rusting and ammunition that might fire 50% of the time. The only danger from North Korea is they would go insane and use a nuke, but if they did the retaliation against them would turn them into a parking lot.
• Springfield, United States•
Kim is not as stupid or insane as all you people think he is.He is crazy smart.He blusters and threatens and then gets what he wants -- food aid to prop up his crumbling government.The exterior threats he manufactures make his people paranoid and thus support his government.Kim is not insane.If we just ignore Kim and the North Korean government, they will implode in time.
Another bad news for the world community. I do not know whyNorth Korean is having aggressive attitude. Any problem between two countries should be settled by themselves. Why USA's intervention is required? However, my kind request is that any 'development' should not lead to war. War is most unwanted. It is totally against humanity causingloss of life, total destruction. Mother will lose her son, wife her beloved husband and children will lose theirfather. Ultimately what people will get? Any answer.
Unfortunatly any comment made here will make no difference at all, our government does what they want, when they want to do it. We the people my #$%$
• Rochester, United States•
bring our troopshome from south korea.
• Bellevue, United States•
is not to be tolerated,, except when it is; which is always. 60 years and counting..
• Paragould, United States•
HoO-HUM, must be a goof, this is old News. I've read this article many times before, over the last 50 years. I side with the South Korean People!
• Portland, United States•
Seems significant - and sad - that the pro-freedom spirit of Arab Spring seems not to have motivated any overt protests against the dictatorial regime in N. Korea - or if it has, their news suppression wont allow us to hear of it..
• Phoenix, United States•
They are no threat , they are starving, the just cut food rations by 2/3 rds
• Seoul, South Korea•
I live in South Korea - while the North doesn't have the most sane approach to diplomacy, rest assured that tension doesn't remain high on the peninsula.No one here cares - no one here talks about it.I love reading the news - they make you think that everyone is sitting here, afraid to go about their daily lives, awaiting the inevitable attack by North Korea.Laughable!
• Seattle, United States•
Gotta have someplace for the troops to occupy.
• Lake Charles, United States•
You bad little boys better stop doing that,or you may get a spanking..U.S.A. WARNING.
• Austin, United States•
Kim jung ( Chronically) Ill ,don't make me have to send another note home to your mother.
Funny, how many times have the North caused a provocation? And yet all the US and South Korea can do is read a statement to the media lolz. Toothless punks.
If it had being a small country violating ever rule in the book like the North is doing, that country would have being invaded by now, obviously the south and US don't have the gut to attack North Korea.
Enough of the posturing, next thing you knowthe North will blow up the presidential villa in the South and another statement will be released by South Korea's president, this time from an hotel lol.
And why would they abandon their nuclear weapons when we have ours and made it clear its on the table as an option, to use against North Korea
I would have one too, its all about survival, isn't it
Best bet, let all nations destroy their nuclear weapons, simple as that.
Nothing makes the USA a saint, and think the world is ok that we have it.
Besides, didn't we just illegally invade Iraq not too long ago.
• Parsippany, United States•
I guess oppressing your people is ok if you have nuclear weapons.US wont be rushing to 'help' the poor North Koreans any time soon...lol...
• Washington, United States•
I would be more worried about N Korea doing any unannounced Nuclear tests below the border.
• Los Angeles, United States•
North Korea keeps enriching Uranium,so why only making a big deal about Iran and not about North Korea??
yes...n korea will kill again and talk...talk...talk...whatever...whats new?
• Newark, United States•
Little Kim only understands and respects the display of power and strength, he constantly takes advantage of weakness and uncertainty in his adversaries.
• Wallingford, United States•
how many presidents have been dealing with north korea and nothing new has happened except the north is gaining nukes requardless of what the world says and thinks
so what is going to happen? another president will take over soon and start the process all over again until the balloon go up
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