North Korea Shells South Korean Island
By Wyatt Earp | November 23, 2010
So far, two South Korean marines were killed, .
North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday, killing one person, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South’s military went on top alert. In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon, the government convened in an underground war room and “multiple” air force jets scrambled.
The firing came after North Korea’s disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment programme — a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb — which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies. Some 50 shells landed on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong near the tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported.
Is anyone really surprised at this? The NORKS looked to build nukes, and no one stopped them. They sunk a South Korean warship, and no one stopped them. Does anyone think the international community – especially the U.S. – will do anything about this, South Korea is so screwed.
Topics: The Troops | 21 Comments »
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Obama Administration will condemn the attack. Stick their collective fingers back up their asses and then watch DWTS to see if Bristol Palin moves to the next round.
Because, hey obsessing about children of Women the left depises is much more important then what the damn North Koreans are doing.
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
“International community” is a contradiction in terms. Kind of like “United Nations.”
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Ferrell – Already brought out the harsh language. That’ll teach the NORKS.
John D – South Korea already said they will take the matter to the U.N. Here’s a thought: How about firing some missiles back instead?
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Obama will send a strongly worded letter to show how disappointed he is with the North Koreans.
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:57 pm
This now becomes South Korea’s show. The U.S. will do nothing substantive for fear of upsetting China, who basically owns the U.S. If China decides to look the other way, SK will destroy NK before the Norks can finish the next hilarious sentence. And SK has as much reason to do that (with over 1000 centrifuges found) as Isreal had to screw up Iran’s nuclear centrifuges with a computer worm. I think nobody can guess how this will turn out.
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:57 pm
My worst fear of Obama was that the weakness he projected would invite attack.
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:46 pm
What in the heck does the Bamster Administration do with any country in this situation??? NOTHING. I’m telling you, this is the MOST dangerous person EVER, to run the free world, and I fear for our safety, as well as the safety of the world. This ain’t going well, folks.
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Time to let’r rip.
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Rick – Apparently, he came in after the letter was drafted. Must have run long on the golf course.
Mike47 – Personally, I am amazed at their restraint.
Sully – North Korea and Iran know we won’t do anything when the poo hits the fan. Today’s events prove that.
Roger – And the NORKS have no reason to stop. No one has threatened them yet.
RT – Agreed. Fire in the hole.
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:46 pm
And our troops on the ground are in danger, and NO support from the Adminstration… Just F’ing lovely…
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Old NFO – I’m guessing you and your guys have had a long day.
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:53 pm
We should have had F117s and B52s in the air minutes after this happened. Turn their SAMs and artillery into slag, then flatten their uranium enrichment facilities.
This was a test of our resolve, and we failed.
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Interesting situation. One could do nothing like with the sinking earlier of the SK Naval vessel or respond with fire. I think it is well overdue to respond in force and I think the reaction needs to be an over-reaction, specifically because the North wants the South to fire back to stir up the population back home. So how about responding so that when the North decides that they need to return fire, the big question is ‘with what?’ as the South has already damaged most everything along the border. I think a response should take out as many aircraft as possible, or at least runways…
I think this situation has gone beyond dealing in a rational-restrained way.
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November 23rd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Well at least SK has drawn a line in the sand at this juncture telling NK that any more attacks and they essentially will retaliate this time unlike after the sinking of their ship. I remember when Wyatt posted the news of the ship sinking and all of our comments back then were pretty much spot on, months before the US and SK stated the obvious, that NK was responsible. So I propose that obambi just starts reading our comments on the appropriate course of action to follow on Wyatts blog, and ignores the MSM military pundits and I am not being sarcastic. I am heartened that SK has asked to possibly reintroduce American Tactical nukes to the penisula to achieve a nuclear parity again and I hope we will also turn control of them over to the SK joint chiefs. That means that from now on that SK should be able to retaliate in kind
to NK provocation without the threat of nuclear blackmail
hanging over their heads. I think Japan should go nuke also by the way.
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Oh, I forgot, though, that was said with the determination I learned to have in ’80s during the Cold War. The wussies have taken over…never mind. We’ll just sit and wait.
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Lou – And remember, we still have thousands of U.S. troops stationed near the DMZ.
Mark – Agreed. Destroy their ability to attack the South again. Hit them on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.
Jon – Politically, there is a lot Obama cannot do. That being said, he has to do better than a strongly worded letter. This is too important.
RT – The world seems to be in duck and cover mode. Can’t offend the NORKS now.
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 pm
The big problem is that Seoul is within artillery range of North Korea, and some analysts think the Norks have ELEVEN THOUSAND (!) artillery pieces and free-flight artillery rockets within range of the South’s capital. With either high explosives or the Norks’ longstanding chemical/bio capabilities, they could kill a hell of a lot of people even without resorting to nukes. I suspect that that’s what’s been staying our hand.
That said: the Norks are going to keep pushing until somebody pushes back…hard. And I’d say that the Norks’ shelling of South Korean villages deserves a hard response, with everything in the arsenal.
Especially if they launch anything at Seoul. Whether the Norks use a WMD or not, that should draw a nuclear response. A bunch of nukes, actually.
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Oh not to worry, the UN Security Council is talking about trying to plan a meeting in the next few days. They will solve all the problems.
November 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 pm
ps I know a few Marines in the US and other places that had their Veterans Day long weekend cut short. Do you suppose somebody knew something was about to happen.
November 24th, 2010 at 9:23 am
So long as Hyundais keep getting made and I have a job, let those two wipe each out. And message to the NORKS, the US might not oepnly send in troops, but do you honestly think they won’t be getting support? Just ask Russia how that Afghan invasion went a few years back.
Though hindsight being 20/20, we should’ve let Russia waltz in there and kick arse. How long do you all think before Japan gets involved. Oh, and for all those China fearers out there, they are actually following OUR lead on this. They know Kim Jon Il has nukes, and is incapable of hitting the US. China however, would make a ripe target.
November 24th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Wyatt:
I don’t suppose we could use a MacArthur, or even a Patton here…right?
(about 20K US troops near the DMZ)
Don’cha hate it when that fan gets bigger and the poo gets smellier?
(and we just sit on our hands)
Maybe Obama can go over and BOW to someone?
This is getting ridiculous.
Stay safe.