Korean
peninsula teeters on brink of war – Pyongyang
War
between North and South Korea could break out at any moment, an
ambassador from Pyongyang told the UN. He accused Seoul of
instigating conflict and ‘increased hostilities’ towards
Pyongyang.
RT,
6
November, 2012
Ri
Tong-il, North Korea’s ambassador to the UN, said in an address
that “no one knows when war will break out” between the two
antagonistic nations.
“The
situation on the peninsula is on the brink of explosion,” Ri said,
adding that North Korea is a nuclear state not subject to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which he condemned as “blindly”
supportive of the US.
He
went on to say that the six-way talks that tried to persuade
Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program had failed.
The
head of the International Atomic Energy Association described
Pyongyang’s stance as “deeply troubling.” The UN also condemned
the country’s “military-first policy,” and called for communist
ruler Kim Jong-Un to work to raise the country’s living standards.
"I
continue to be concerned with both the human rights and humanitarian
situation in the country," UN special rapporteur Marzuki
Darusman said in a statement. “Slow economic growth coupled with
what is known as a 'military-first policy' will of course be
detrimental to the welfare of the people of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea.”
Darusman
stressed that Pyongyang was putting its nuclear ambitions over the
wellbeing of North Koreans, 60 percent of who suffer from
malnutrition and food shortages.
Washington
cut off aid packages to North Korea earlier in April following
Pyongyang’s failed attempt to test a long-range missile. The launch
was widely perceived by the international community as a veiled
attempt to see if a nuclear warhead could be carried on the missile.
The
US has been steadily increasing its military presence in South Korea.
Washington claims the buildup is purely defensive, and is not a sign
of imminent military action against the North.
The
most recent reinforcements were announced in July when the US said it
would deliver more than 80 MRAPs (Mine resistant ambush proof
vehicles). Currently, over 28,000 US soldiers are stationed in the
South.
The
reinforcements, according to Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Michael
Sennett, are “part of the Army’s continuing rebalancing efforts
in the Pacific region.”
The
US has also increased its military footprint in neighboring Japan
with its deal for a missile defense radar system to be built there in
September. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that the measure
was purely defensive, and aimed at cementing Japanese-US security
ties.
The
Institute for Science and International Security gave a stark warning
over North Korea’s nuclear weapons stockpile in August. They
predicted that Pyongyang could have over 48 nuclear weapons by 2015
if allowed to continue with its uranium enrichment.
S.
Korea ready to negotiate?
South
Korea’s conservative presidential hopeful Park Geun-Hye pledged to
usher in a new era of diplomacy, and promised to revive ties with the
North if she is elected.
Park
said she was willing to meet with North Korean leaders, contrasting
current president Lee Myung-bak’s hardline policies; Lee cut off
food aid to North Korea when he became president in 2008.
“For
continued and systematic development of South-North economic
cooperation and social and cultural exchange, I will establish
South-North exchange and cooperation offices in Seoul and Pyongyang,”
Park said during a news conference. She also said that Pyongyang
should end its nuclear weapons program and cease its hawkish
rhetoric.
The
war between North and South Korea came to an end in 1953 with a
ceasefire, therefore, technically both countries are still in a state
of war.
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