Dai Bingguo, China's state councilor, left, speaks with Lee Myung Bak, South Korea's president, during their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (Yonhap News via Bloomberg)South Korea's Lee Warns North Against Further Attacks -- Yahoo News/Reuters
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday labeled North Korea's artillery attack on a southern island a crime against humanity and said Pyongyang will pay the price for any further provocation.
Lee made his first address to the nation since last Tuesday's attack as U.S. as South Korean war ships took part in day two of military maneuvers, prompting concern in regional power China and threats of all-out war from North Korea.
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More News On The Crisis On The Korean Peninsula
SKorea leader vows consequences for NKorean attack -- Yahoo News/AP
S.Korea says N.Korea will pay for future provocations -- Yahoo News/AFP
Shelling by North Korea was 'inhumane crime' - Seoul -- BBC
S. Korea's president says he failed nation -- USA Today
North and South Korea move close to war footing -- The Telegraph
70% Support Military Action Against N.Korea -- Chosun Ilbo
My Comment: The South Korean government now realizes (as well as most South Koreans), that after years of accommodating and meeting the demands of the North (aid, assistance, etc.) .... they are now at the precipice of all out war.
While the North Koreans are satisfied that they have made their point with last weeks artillery barrage .... the South Koreans are clearly diverging from their past policy of taking the hit, licking their wounds, and then doing nothing about it.
While I doubt that the South Korean government will order their forces to strike at North Korean targets, I do suspect that the rules of engagement have changed, and that unlike past confrontations, South Korean military forces will be told to quickly strike against any North Korean attack. The days of taking the hit and doing nothing about it .... it appears that after almost 60 years .... that mindset is now dead.
What I would like to know is ..... are the North Koreans thinking the same way?