Residents leave Yeonpyeong Island by a boat at a port of the island, Sunday. South Korea said it would go ahead with its live-fire drill on the border island between December 20 to 21. North Korea said last week it would strike again at the South with an even stronger response than last month's shelling if a live-fire drill by Seoul went ahead. Newsis/ReutersCivilians On South Korea Island Told To Take Shelter -- Wall Street Journal
YEONPYEONG ISLAND (AFP)--Civilians on five South Korean border islands were ordered Monday to take shelter after Seoul announced it would stage a live-fire drill despite North Korean threats of retaliation.
A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the order was issued for all the islands on the Yellow Sea frontline with the North, after Seoul said it would stage the artillery exercise on Yeonpyeong island later Monday.
"It will happen today," a defense ministry spokesman said without giving a time.
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More News On South Korea's Impending Military Exercise
Russian initiative to stop South Korean military exercise fails -- Turtle Bay/Foreign Policy
UNSC fails to reach agreement on Korean crisis, Russia insists UN mediation -- Xinhuanet
S.Korea should not hold military exercises - Russia -- Reuters
UN Council Meeting on Korea Ends Without Accord, Russian Ambassador Says -- Bloomberg
China Declines to Condemn North Korean Shelling as South Prepares Drill -- Bloomberg
UN council members deadlocked on Korea crisis: Rice -- Reuters
Seoul to go ahead with drills despite threats of war -- Yahoo News/Reuters
S. Korea to go ahead with live-fire drill today -- Korea Times
South Korea to carry out live-fire drills on Monday: report -- Reuters
'If Weather Permits,' South Korea Will Follow Through on Controversial Artillery Test -- New York Magazine
S.Korean, U.S. Militaries on High Alert Ahead of Artillery Drill -- Chosun Ilbo
N.Korea Deploys Rocket Launchers Along West Coast -- Chosun Ilbo
North puts artillery on live-fire alert -- Independent/Reuters
Yeonpyeong Islanders flee in advance of South Korea's expected live-fire drills -- Christian Science Monitor
Seoul undertakes effort to measure North Korea's longevity -- Washington Post
My Comment: This has been a golden opportunity for China to be a major player in this crisis .... but they have chosen to sit on the fence. They want to play both sides .... but this has only put the possibility of war in the region at a level that has not been seen for decades.
I expect South Korea to proceed with their military drills .... to not do so will be a loss of face .... with the result that the "ball" will now be in North Korea's court. If North Korea decide
Seoul to go ahead with drills despite threats of war -- Yahoo News/Reuters
S. Korea to go ahead with live-fire drill today -- Korea Times
South Korea to carry out live-fire drills on Monday: report -- Reuters
'If Weather Permits,' South Korea Will Follow Through on Controversial Artillery Test -- New York Magazine
S.Korean, U.S. Militaries on High Alert Ahead of Artillery Drill -- Chosun Ilbo
N.Korea Deploys Rocket Launchers Along West Coast -- Chosun Ilbo
North puts artillery on live-fire alert -- Independent/Reuters
Yeonpyeong Islanders flee in advance of South Korea's expected live-fire drills -- Christian Science Monitor
Seoul undertakes effort to measure North Korea's longevity -- Washington Post
My Comment: This has been a golden opportunity for China to be a major player in this crisis .... but they have chosen to sit on the fence. They want to play both sides .... but this has only put the possibility of war in the region at a level that has not been seen for decades.
I expect South Korea to proceed with their military drills .... to not do so will be a loss of face .... with the result that the "ball" will now be in North Korea's court. If North Korea decides to attack South Korean military sites (as they have said that they will do), I will then expect massive retaliation from the South .... with the result that a shooting war will probably be the state affairs along the DMZ.
Full blown war on the Korean peninsula will be a disaster for everyone in the region, and will impact everyone in the world. For the U.S. and its allies in the region, I have always stated in past posts that if war breaks out on the Peninsula, the cost of American soldiers and treasure will far exceed the cost of U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan combined .... and then some more. Unfortunately .... White House focus is elsewhere, and while President Obama may celebrate the repeal of DADT right now, a disaster may await him and the American people (and everyone else) this coming Christmas weekend.
S. Korea to go ahead with live-fire drill today -- Korea Times
South Korea to carry out live-fire drills on Monday: report -- Reuters
'If Weather Permits,' South Korea Will Follow Through on Controversial Artillery Test -- New York Magazine
S.Korean, U.S. Militaries on High Alert Ahead of Artillery Drill -- Chosun Ilbo
N.Korea Deploys Rocket Launchers Along West Coast -- Chosun Ilbo
North puts artillery on live-fire alert -- Independent/Reuters
Yeonpyeong Islanders flee in advance of South Korea's expected live-fire drills -- Christian Science Monitor
Seoul undertakes effort to measure North Korea's longevity -- Washington Post
My Comment: This has been a golden opportunity for China to be a major player in this crisis .... but they have chosen to sit on the fence. They want to play both sides .... but this has only put the possibility of war in the region at a level that has not been seen for decades.
I expect South Korea to proceed with their military drills .... to not do so will be a loss of face .... with the result that the "ball" will now be in North Korea's court. If North Korea decides to attack South Korean military sites (as they have said that they will do), I will then expect massive retaliation from the South .... with the result that a shooting war will probably be the state affairs along the DMZ.
Full blown war on the Korean peninsula will be a disaster for everyone in the region, and will impact everyone in the world. For the U.S. and its allies in the region, I have always stated in past posts that if war breaks out on the Peninsula, the cost of American soldiers and treasure will far exceed the cost of U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan combined .... and then some more. Unfortunately .... White House focus is elsewhere, and while President Obama may celebrate the repeal of DADT right now, a disaster may await him and the American people (and everyone else) this coming Christmas weekend.