Using the following link, choose a topic under “Latest News”. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/northkorea/
You will need to discuss (and post a link to) the article that you chose in a minimum of 10 sentences by Friday of this week. Then, by Wednesday of next week (1-12-11), you will need to read the article that a classmate posted and respond to their posting with a question you still have about their article.
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My article:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html
When South Korea practiced massive military threats near the border, North Korea threatened with a “sacred war”. Kim Yong Chun, North Korea’s defense minister, said that North Korea was completely prepared for a war with South Korea. Unimpressed with the threats, U.S. officials said “Unfortunately, North Korea is back to its old belligerent tricks.” The South Korean exercises have long been planned. This has been billed as the biggest land and air winter drill ever to take place. Over 800 military personnel, jets, and missiles took part in the exercise, located only fifteen miles from the border in undisputed South Korean territory. The timing of this event is what started the chaos, especially because of the ship supposedly sunk by North Korea, and South Korea firing missiles into North Korean waters. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak struck back at North Korea, commenting, “In the case of another surprise attack, the country must launch a merciless counterattack.” Hostility comes during a transfer of power in North Korea. Kim Jong II, the current ailing leader, is supposedly in the process of giving leadership of his country to Kim Jong Un, his son. Many analysts believe that the coming changes has prompted North Korea to show off its military power.
This article is about South Korea getting ready because of militarized threats by North Koreans. The South Koreans are still mad at the sinking of one of their ships killing many South Korean fisherman. I still think that this sacred war is just a bunch of “mumbo jumbo” and that nothing will happen. Though, it was very risky for South Korea to do military drills only 15 miles away from the border of North Korea. It was also pretty stupid on North Korea’s part to threaten to have a sacred war with South Korea. What I would like to know is why don’t these 2 countries just come together as 1? JUST MAKE PEACE ALREADY!!!! There would probably be a lot less wars if Koreans just came together as one. Luckily, the U.S is not going to get involved. I think that North Korea is too cocky and just trying to show off their military power.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html
Great article Ryan, but how would the world have fewer wars if the Koreas made peace? Also, how can you be sure that North Korea wants to show off, and that South Korea hasn’t secretly done something to tick them off? Finally, how would you define “mumbo jumbo”?
Thanks for replying Tara but if you think about it North and South Korea as a whole has been involved in most wars. Because usually I think of it as North Korea being Communist and more dominant over South Korea. Now the third question is impossible to answer because I am not an insider spying on both countries. I wuold define it as meaningless. Thanks Again!!!
Recently, tension has grown drastically in the Korean Peninsula. A South Korean ship was destroyed by what they believe was a North Korean ship. Things have gone back and forth between the two countries, getting more and more violent. The world has been waiting on the edge of its seat. The Koreas have an easy access to a significant amount of, not just guns and bombs, but nuclear weapons. This dispute could turn into a nuclear holocaust. Luckily, each country has said that they are willing to work towards peace in this new year. South Korea’s President said,” In the New Year of 2011, I am confident that we will be able to establish peace on the Korean peninsula and continue sustained economic growth.” On the other hand, each country is also saying that if the other attacks they have every intention of retaliating viciously. The South Korean President has also stated that the country “must launch a merciless counterattack” if the other country attacks. Currently, we’re just playing the waiting game. Tension has slackened and potential peace is just over the horizon, but this promises to be a difficult path.
In the face of North Korean threats, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak stepped up his nationalist push, urging the people in a radio address “to stand together, united as one.” Over the past six decades their have small fights on the land and sea borders. The president said that Seoul had “thus far shown patience, time and again struggled to maintain peace.” “If we show the North Koreans how steadfastly united we are, they will not dare challenge us,” said Lee. Tensions have been running high since North Korea sunk the South Korean warship Cheonan that killed 46 sailors. Both North and South have been cunducting drills with their army and navy. This means that they are practicing how to use the weapons they have. This also trains the soldiers how to fight. This is where the tension has been the highest.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/01/koreas.new.year.message/index.html
This Saturday North Korea urged better relation with South Korea. They said that a war on the peninsula would be almost like a nuclear holocaust. North Korea said any type of confrontation should be avoided and stopped. If it were to happen a holocaust would be sure to happen. They said they barely avoided a war last year, and don’t want one now. North Korea then asked the South to stop their military exercises. South Korea then said, in their own New Year’s message, that they “hoped” that this new year would bring peace to the peninsula. Tensions have been running high since a South Korean ship sank.The South blames the North for the sinking, but the North insists they didn’t do it. However, the North says that the South fired into their territory killing four. The North also recently threatened to launch a “sacred” war after the South practiced some military exercises near the border.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/02/south.korea.president.message/index.html
On monday South Korea’s president says that an attack on Yeonpyeong Island should be responded to as a reason to challenge the their security. Tensions in both countries have been high since the sinking of a South Korean warship. Then, in November Yeonpyeong Island was shelled. North Korea said South Korea fired into it’s northern waters, forciung them to shell the island, killing four South Koreans. South Korea’s president says any future “provocations” will be met with “stern, strong responses.” Now North Korean officials are calling for better ties and for South Korea to end it’s military excersizes. “I remind the North that the path toward peace is yet open. The door for dialogue is still open. If the North exhibits sincerity, we have both the will and the plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation together with the international community,” said South Korea’s president Lee Myung-bak.
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html
A couple of days ago, South Korea launched military drills, only 15 miles way from the Korean Border! It took place in undisputed territory and had over 800 personnel. It also had Fighter Jets and Anti-Tank missiles, with 100 different types of weapons. That made North Korea feel threatened, so the threatened of a “sacred war”. This nothing but a warning right now. This whole thing started last year, when North Korea supposedly destroyed a South Korean warship killing 46 sailors. Tensions got really high when North Korea bombed off shore islands that belonged to South Korea killing four people. The excuse for bombing them was, “The south fired into northern waters”. South said their Navy was simply just doing their drills which also continued a few days ago.The South Korean President said,”In the case of another surprise attack, the country must launch a merciless counterattack”.
My Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/north.korea.us.bodies/index.html
During the Korean War many U.S. soldiers were lost in the war. After the 3 years of fighting more than 54,000 soldiers had been called dead. On the previous Sunday North Korea’s general agreed to help send back the remaining bodies to the U.S. to be identified. Other remains are being sent over too, such as personal items that have been found. North Korea sent more than 200 boxes of human bones and personal items between the years 1990 and 1994. Many of the bodies that have been returned have been in to poor of condition to be identified. Some people are still saying that there are 2 men who are missing in action still. People are looking for them and hoping to find them, if they are still alive because it has been over 60 years since they have been missing. Also, more than 8,000 soldiers are still missing. People ARE still looking for the missing!
My question is how many bodies have they identified of the many N. Korea has sent to America?
Why did the North Korean start firing at the island. I know because there are political tensions but what specific reason evoked North Korea to attack.
Only seven of the bodies of the soldiers have been indentified.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/south.korea.yeonpyeong.island/index.html
South Korean residents are fleeing their island of Yeonpyeong because of future military drills. Tiny signs of life remained as villagers departed. Threats from North Korea say they will retaliate with more power if the drills are done. Yeonpyeong is found right under the Northern Limit Line. This line was drawn by the UN in 1953 after the Korean War. An alternative line was suggested by North Korea, but South Korea said no, as it would bring North Korea’s nautical line close to a primary port, Incheon. Especially for the North Korean fishermen, The Yellow Sea is important for fishing and crab. Especially for the North Korean fishermen, the blue crab season is an important income source. Those crabs have a habit of southern migrating during their season, making the waters sometimes crowded, having ships from both countries, including China. Armed clashes have occurred in the past few years. South Korea has been asked by Russia and China to rethink about carrying out the drills.
Why did the North Korean start firing at the island. I know because there are political tensions but what specific reason evoked North Korea to attack, they didn’t just hit on a random day.
If I had two explain this in ten sentences to someone I would say that first say that the topic is about the people of an island that belongs to South Korea. The island I speak off is named Yeonpyeong Island. South Korea has planned to run some drills on the island people are fleeing afraid of being caught in the middle of all of it. “Villagers streamed onto what they believed was the last ferry to Incheon, South Korea, on Sunday, carrying what belongings they could. Some were holding their children as others helped the elderly.” That quote came from the publisher of the article, and that truly does tell you how scared the island people are. “I’m leaving because they said the drills are tomorrow,” said Kim Ok Jin. Others were more optimistic “It’s OK,” said ferry passenger Lee Chun Nyeo. “The soldiers need to do (the exercises), right?” China and Russia have asked South Korea to reconsider holding the drills. Russia called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday.
First off, I think that this is great. Families whose realtives were MIA (missing in action) are thrilled. North Korea may be doing this just for looks, but I hope this is really meaningful for them. On the other hand, How did the Koreans find all the remains? Second, what is Korea trying to accomplish by doing this? Are they kind of teasing the US? Also, why is North Korea just doing this now? In the article it says that the US has been trying for four decades to get remains back. Why start now? How are they identifying the bodies? Are they using like CSI stuff? That would be pretty cool. I hope that they can identify all the bodies and that they rest in peace.
My article is titled, “Islanders Flee Ahead of Drills”:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/south.korea.yeonpyeong.island/index.html
My article was about the small island Yeonpyeong that is caught in between an active hatred. There is a line called the Northern Limit Line that was established shortly after the Korean War dispersed. The line is a border that limits North Korea. The line was supposed to be temporary, but nobody ever changed them. North Korea proposed a new line placement but the South declined, because it would bring their enemy close to a booming port, important to South Koreas economy. There are five islands on the South part of the line that are part of South Korea. The South is sending its navy to go and do drills there on the coast closest to North Korea and the islands. The problem with this is that North Korea threatened to retaliate with something even worse than what the South will do.
Yeonpyeong is stuck right in the middle of these two quarreling countries. The people are being evacuated on ferries and boats to safety on the South’s coast. Some people are staying because they either haven’t been told to leave or because they don’t wish to leave their whole lives behind.
Russia and China have tried to convince South Korea to just not have the drills but that have held strong to their decision. Russia is going to try and stop this by holding an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
After reading both the review, and the article I had two questions:
1. Why is South Korea so stubborn that they will not move the drill, even though they likely knew that this was going to evoke a violent reaction from North Korea?
2. Because they border is such an area of conflict, why don’t North and South Korea just have a civilized meeting to discuss a new border plan that would be approved by both countries?
Other that this, I think you had a very nice summary!
Thank you Peyton. First of all, I think South Korea was trying to prove a point that they can’t be threatened by the North Koreans, and that they can do what they want without living in fear. In order to get this kind of freedom, sacrifices must be made, but they are evacuating the people anyhow. Second of all, I think that the Koreas have become accustomed to the border. Also, with tempers barely below the limit, I think that the last thing they need is a dispute over where the new border will be. Thanks for the questions!
North Korea is threatning South Korea with a so called “sacred war” because South Korea was shooting Naval shells near the border. Kim Yong Chun , the North Korean defense minister told South Korea that North Korea was completely ready for war if South Korea threatens them again. Some United States officials said that Korea was back to thier tricks again. This incident has been called the biggest land/air winter drill in history,800 or more military personnel,jets , and missles. Also over a 100 different weapons. This incident took place only fifteen miles away from the Korean border. This happend only just after a South Korean ship was sunken (supposively by North Korea) killing 74 sailors. This and South Korea firing missles into North Korean territory started this utter chaos.The South Korean president (Lee Myung-bak) Replied to this by saying “In case of a suprise attack, the country must launch a merciless counterattack”. While in North Korea leadership is being passed down from current Kim Jong ll, to Kim Chong Un.
My article:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/20/koreas.tensions/index.html
I think it’s smart for South Korea to be on high alert. I mean they are on the brink of war and need to be ready in case of an attack. I also think that North Korea should just admit they sunk the war ship. I sure they did it and so is the rest of the world. The whole fight between the 2 countries is dumb and I hope it doesn’t start a war again. It’s smart for the US to back South Korea. I mean South Korea can’t protect against North Korean attacks, but they better not get too involved because it could start a world war. That could be devastating to the world with all the nuclear weapons and high powered guns. One dumb thing said by North Korea was that they will wait till South Korea gets their guard down then attack. I mean why don’t you just tell them what you’re going to do. I think the whole fight is dumb and should be stopped, but it won’t.
I halfway understand the whole big war thing, but I don’t think there would be nuclear weapons. Most countries have agreed to not build them anymore. Also how are you sure that South Korea will not be able to hold off the attacks?
South Korea has planned to run live-fire military drills sometime this week. North Korea has informed that is is prepared to retaliate. Not only has this affected the relationship between the two countries, but also the citizens of South Korea that would be affected. They have already evacuated twice!
To me, this doesn’t make sense. They are endangering the citizens of their countries and they don’t seem to care! The first time the drills were going to take place, the people didn’t even receive a warning! It’s ridiculous! Many people are very upset about the situation. What they used to know as a peaceful place to live has turned into a fighting station. The whole country is being affected by it too. What I don’t understand is why they don’t just hole the drills in a deserted place. Why can’t they just hold the drills here nobody lives? That way nobody would be harmed!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/south.korea.yeonpyeong.island/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/north.korea.us.bodies/index.html
In 1950 the U.S. fought with South Korea against North Korea in the Korean War. More than 54,000 U.S. troops were killed over the war’s 3 year period. Even today after 58 years 8,000 bodires remain missing from the war. Sunday a top North Korean general offered to help return the remains of several hundred U.S. troops killed during the war. The U.S. is kind of concerned about getting some remains returned, when they are still trying to figure out the bones that were sent to the U.S. over 1990-1994. In 2007 209 sets of remains were returned to the U.S. and only 7 have been identified. U.S. has not had much luck identifying many remains over the 58 year time span. In 1996 most of the remains returned to the U.S. were in too poor condition to identify. Mac Swain still has 2 people that worked for his company missing in action. Swain believes that the motives of the North Koeans is more political than it is humanitarian.
Great summary Maddie, I really liked the in depth detail. How do they know first of all about the missing bodies? And also if they retrieved them with all the high tech stuff we have today how can they not figure out what their names and specifications are?
Hey maddie I really liked your summary but I had a couple of questions about it. How do they know that there are missing bodies out there with only 7 have been identified?
Deceased U.S troops were recently discovered in North Korea. These bodies were actually from the Korean War. North Korea is willing to give back the dead troops to the United States. Investigators are finding it difficult to identify the bodies. The reason is because bones were scattered all inside the boxes. The investigators cannot tell how many bodies are in the boxes because of the scattered bones. Although a number of deceased U.S troops have been recovered, more than 8,000 troops from the Korean War are still not discovered. For decades the United States have been trying to recover the bodies, but North Korea hasn’t been cooperating with them. North Korean troops did bring some of the boxes with the dead bodies back to the U.S.A. Only seven bodies have been identified.
When did we get the boxes of the soldiers?
Sorry I forgot to post my link along with my blog.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/19/north.korea.us.bodies/index.html
North Korea is threatning South Korea with a so called “sacred war” because South Korea was shooting Naval shells near the border. Kim Yong Chun , the North Korean defense minister told South Korea that North Korea was completely ready for war if South Korea threatens them again. Some United States officials said that Korea was back to thier tricks again. This incident has been called the biggest land/air winter drill in history,800 or more military personnel,jets , and missles. Also over a 100 different weapons. This incident took place only fifteen miles away from the Korean border. This happend only just after a South Korean ship was sunken (supposively by North Korea) killing 74 sailors. This and South Korea firing missles into North Korean territory started this utter chaos.The South Korean president (Lee Myung-bak) Replied to this by saying “In case of a suprise attack, the country must launch a merciless counterattack”. While in North Korea leadership is being passed down from current Kim Jong ll, to Kim Chong Un.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html
Christian, I have a few things to ask you. First, what is a “sacred war”? It’s mentioned a lot, but what is it? Also, were the drills in the South planned before the sinking of their ship? Lastly, do you think that the North’s new leader may attack just to prove himself? You did great talking about your article!
North Korea is trying to mend broken ties with South Korea according to CNN. They said that if they started a war with South Korea, it become a “nuclear holocaust.” If there is a confrontation between the two, then it should be done quickly. The North called on the South to stop their military exercises. They also said that Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is teeming with “U.S. war hawks.” All the tension between the two has been rising ever since the sinking of the South Korean warship, Cheonan, and the 46 soldiers aboard the ship. South Korea and the international community blamed North Korea for this wrongdoing. Pyongyang has denied all charges of wrongdoing against them. In December the North said that the South fired into their waters and in retaliation they bombed Yeonpyeong Island killing 4 South Koreans. Also, they recently threatened to launch a “sacred war” on South Korea after they completed large military exercises near the inter-Korean border. Those drills took place on undisputed South Korean territory, but when was done was what worried the region. South Korean’s president said there country, “must launch a merciless counter-attack” if North Korea attacks.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/01/koreas.new.year.message/index.html
Good job on the article Griffin! However I have a few questions for you about your post. First off who or what is pyongyang? Second what is a “sacred war”? Finally do either South Korea or North Korea want to go to war with each other?
Recently, tension has grown drastically in the Korean Peninsula. A South Korean ship was destroyed by what they believe was a North Korean ship. Things have gone back and forth between the two countries, getting more and more violent. The world has been waiting on the edge of its seat. The Koreas have an easy access to a significant amount of, not just guns and bombs, but nuclear weapons. This dispute could turn into a nuclear holocaust. Luckily, each country has said that they are willing to work towards peace in this new year. South Korea’s President said,” In the New Year of 2011, I am confident that we will be able to establish peace on the Korean peninsula and continue sustained economic growth.” On the other hand, each country is also saying that if the other attacks they have every intention of retaliating viciously. The South Korean President has also stated that the country “must launch a merciless counterattack” if the other country attacks. Currently, we’re just playing the waiting game. Tension has slackened and potential peace is just over the horizon, but this promises to be a difficult path.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html
Sorry that was the wrong link. Here’s the right one: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/01/koreas.new.year.message/index.html
North Korea is threatening war after a very large military exercise took place near the North Korean border in South Korea. “The South Korean army is getting prepared to fight a “sacred war” with North Korea” said North Korea’s defense minister Kim Yong Chun. South Korea started the exercise because of an attack on a military base in South Korea by the North which killed four civilians. But North Korea did that because South Korea had a naval military exercise in North Korean water, and the reasons of blame keeps going back.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/23/south.korea.drills/index.html