Korean War II

The North Korean armed forces opened fire against South Korea civilians today, causing hundreds to flee to shelters, and killing two South Korean Marines. The attack was unprovoked and in clear violation of the 1953 Armistice Agreement ending the four year Korean conflict. This follows on the heels of the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel by a North Korean submarine. Neither incident was proceeded by provocative actions by the South. The North Koreans have insisted that they had the right to fire on the South, and have threatened retaliation against any forces that incur into North Korean territory by "0.001 inch."

Balancing peace with what is right, is a hard task. A nation under attack has the right to defend itself, yet that nation must balance the immediate threat to its citizens against the threat of all out war. North Korea is not the petty state that it once was, fighting only with Chinese assistance. North Korea has the ability to inflict devastating damage on the South Korean people and economy. Such a conflict would have worldwide implications, causing stock markets to tumble and the economy to worsen. While North Korea will fail in their attempts, and will eventually fall to United Nations forces, the destruction will be complete. South Korea will pay a heavy price to finish the war started over sixty years ago.

We have to ask ourselves, as a world community, if actions taken by North Korea should be allowed to pass unanswered, or if we should give a proportional response to the north, and punish them with the backing of the international community. A proportional response would be to attack, using cruise missiles, one or two military complexes within North Korea, and warning the North that if it retaliates or makes aggressive moves southward, it will face certain destruction and the end of the regime that has ruled it for over sixty years. The North is not stupid, and would see any retaliation as a threat to its control over its own nation. China may step in at the United Nations level, but would be hard pressed to send troops to defend its tiny neighbor. North Korea has been a thorn in the side of the Chinese for years. With economic tensions throughout the world at an all-time high, and the threat of sanctions against China were it to step into the conflict, it would surly seek a non-violent end to the conflict. China would surly place political pressure on the United States to end the conflict, but in the end, blood will be spilled, American, Korean, and Chinese, and the North will either change into an unrecognizable entity, or the South will be offered at the alter of appeasement, an option not seen as likely by political watchers.

Regardless of what happens, North Korea has brought any and all repercussions upon itself, and has no one to blame but itself for any conflict that may arise. As a rightful nation among nations, South Korea maintains its sovereign right to defend itself against aggression from its northern neighbor. We, as Americans, are obliged to stand beside South Korea, in what is the last true bastion of communism, and protect a world economic leader, and a peaceful people. We cannot allow North Korea to continue their aggression without consequences. The United States must act, along with South Korea, to punish the north, and fight to maintain the freedom and liberties of the people on the Korean mainland.