Tensions have been evermore increasing on the Korean Peninsular, as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) – a state run news agency run by North Korea – has run an article stating that North Korea is in a ‘state of war’ against South Korea. Although, in actual fact the war had never ended with only, what was considered, a temporary cease fire until a treaty could be ratified, which never came. So instead the Korean Armistice Agreement has been in effect ever since. However, North Korea have actually threatened to throw the agreement out on many occasions and have done so 6 times in total (1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2013); including this year.
This is the first time that North Korea has threatened South Korea and the United States with nuclear war
It is indeed a first. Never has North Korea been so forthright when speaking of nuclear weapons. They have threatened bases in Guam, Hawaii and in South Korea.
The last time they had cancelled the agreement was in 2009 and they had made war threats, but never nuclear threats, due to the United States and South Korea holding joint military drills that were targeted at North Korea. This time the reasons are the same for the North Koreans (US/SK joint military exercises and fresh UN sanctions); although, this time North Korea is responding with nuclear threats and of “preemptive nuclear attacks” on targets on US specific targets. – This was as a response to the US sending B-52 bombers and a B-2A stealth bomber as a show of force. This has further escalated the situation in the Korean Peninsula which has ultimately led to the current situation to where the North has now declared a ‘state of war’, though there was never any doubt that it existed before. More notably the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan, the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island and at the end of 2010 the threat of a “sacred war“. Since these events the Korean ‘situation’ has spiraled downward and there has been a lack of communication.
The North, as noted as doing in many other similar circumstances, has also severed all communication lines with the South and are threatening to close the only joint economic zone in the Kaesong Industrial Region, North Korea.
The Korean Central News Agency also posted this today on their website:
Pyongyang, March 30 (KCNA) — (Link) – From the Korean Central News Agency.
The U.S. imperialists Thursday let B-2A and other strategic strike means fly into the sky above south Korea for a madcap drill for striking ground targets of the DPRK despite its repeated warnings.
Minju Joson Saturday observes in a bylined commentary in this regard:
The above-said moves of the U.S. are deliberate and dangerous military provocations escalating the tension on the Korean Peninsula.
The day after the statement of the Supreme Command of the Korean People’s Army was issued, the U.S. let fly B-2A, a major nuclear strike means of its air force, into the sky above south Korea.
This is an ultimatum that it will ignite a nuclear war on the peninsula at any cost, an indication that it seeks to stand in confrontation with the DPRK to the last.
The DPRK is a nuclear weapons state whether one recognizes or not. Accordingly, the relations between the DPRK and the U.S. are the ones between nuclear weapons states. If the U.S. uses nukes, the DPRK is compelled to strike the U.S. mainland with its nukes. The DPRK has already declared its principled stand that it would react to the U.S. nuclear blackmail with a merciless nuclear attack and to a war of aggression with an all-out war of justice. The DPRK can never repress its anger as the U.S. is bringing the dark clouds of a nuclear war to hang over the DPRK while seeking to stand in confrontation with it to the last.
That was why the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, supreme commander of the KPA, finally examined and ratified the plan of the Strategic Rocket Force for firepower strike in view of the prevailing grim situation. This is a just military step for self-defence to put a definite end to the time when the U.S. used to threaten and blackmail the DPRK with its nukes.
Time has come to show the U.S. the might of Songun Korea.
For years, the North Koreans at every occasion have protested joint military drills between the South Korean forces and the United States forces. They see this as a threat to their national security. However, the United States stance on this is that it is unacceptable that North Korea have nuclear capabilities, and as a pre-text is a threat to US and South Korean national security. It is thought that Taepodong 2, North Korea’s longest range missile, has the capacity to carry nuclear tipped warheads and can attack as far as Alaska, but no further. In response the United States has stated that it would further extend its missile defense capabilities by adding 15 interceptor missiles in addition to the 30 in total that protect Alaska and California.
There is a possibility that this could escalate, as Kim Jong Un has only been in power for a short period of time, so who knows what direction his leadership will take his country into. Either way, the threat of nuclear war is being taken very seriously by surrounding countries and the United States is no exception to that.
F-22s to be deployed in South Korea for joint exercise
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) — U.S. F-22 stealth jets arrived in South Korea to participate in joint drills, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) officials said Monday, in the latest show of force against North Korea, which issues daily threats of war amid heightened tensions on the peninsula.
F-22 Raptors were sent from Japan’s Kadena air force base to South Korea’s Osan Air Base on Sunday to join the training called Foal Eagle to further demonstrate U.S. commitment to jointly deter provocations from Pyongyang, USFK officials said. — Source.
