|
November 13, 2009
|
|
| A North Korean government newspaper accused South Korea of staging a deliberate attack on a North Korean ship Tuesday in the Yellow Sea to coincide with the visit next week to Seoul by U.S. President Barack Obama. In its editorial, Minju Joson charged that the South Korean military caused the “armed provocation” in the west sea then claimed that the North Korean military was responsible. The paper said the action was meant to raise the stakes before Obama’s trip and also before the scheduled visit to Pyongyang by Stephen Bosworth, the special U.S. envoy for North Korea. “By committing this armed provocation, the South’s military authorities are seeking to raise animosity against us among their U.S. lords, and to appeal to them not to change their hostile policy against the DPRK [North Korea] and not to engage in DPRK-U.S. talks,” the paper read. Another state paper, the Rodong Sinmun of the ruling Workers’ Party, said the clash was “a deliberate and premeditated provocation” and warned that the South “will be forced to pay dearly” for the action. The United States reacted calmly. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking in Singapore during the APEC Ministerial Meeting, insisted that Bosworth’s tip would still take place despite the naval skirmish. Asked about sending Bosworth, Clinton said, “This does not in any way affect our decision to send Ambassador Bosworth. We think that is an important step that stands on its own.” Clinton added: “We are certainly counseling calm and caution when it comes to any kind of dispute, especially one that can cause repercussions and damage that could be quite difficult to contend with.” Washington announced on Wednesday, Korean time, that it had informed the North of its decision to send Bosworth and an interagency delegation to Pyongyang on a yet-to-be-determined date. The State Department said the goal would be to “facilitate the resumption of the six-party talks” that have stalled since late last year and to get the North to agree to its prior denuclearization commitments. South Korea, meanwhile, continued yesterday to strengthen its coastal defenses on the Yellow Sea. A new 4,500-ton destroyer, the Choi Young, will join another destroyer and patrol boats near the Northern Limit Line. By Yoo Jee-ho [jeeho@joongang.co.kr] |
|
