North Korea Continues Provocation to South Korea: War Looming?

North Korea is showing signs of preparation for a war against South Korea. It has "placed surface-to-surface missiles on Yellow Sea launch pads," notes Reuters. SA-2 Surface to air missiles are also now in place in North Korea. Is Kim Jong Il just putting on a show or does he plan to start a war with South Korea?

South Korea has reacted to this new aggressiveness of North Korea by briefly ordering evacuation of the residents of Yeonpyeong Island to safe shelters. Residents were allowed to leave the shelters after about a half-hour.

Attack on Yeonpyeong Island

North Korea recently launched a surprise attack on Yeonpyeong Island with missiles. There were four fatalities on the island. This unprovoked attacked has garnered worldwide condemnation. North Korea displayed an arrogant lack of concern for human life in South Korea.

Thus the USA sent the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to join in on joint military drills with South Korea. The USS Geoge Washington holds 75 warplanes and 6,000 military personell, notes al Jazeera. Four additional USA warships have also been sent to the area.

Kim Jong Il: A Lust for Power

North Korea's provocation of South Korea is yet another example of Kim Jong Il's lust for power and his oversized ego. Is he staging some massive attack of South Korea to show his power before he steps down and hands over control of the country to his son Kim Jong-un?

President Obama stated in 2009 that America would "stand up" to North Korea, notes the NY Times. Well, the time may have come for President Obama to have to take action to back up that statement. Kim Jong Il is acting like a bully toward South Korea. He attacked South Korea again without provocation. And this recent attack is just months after he attacked a ship of South Korea, causing 46 deaths.

Kim Jong Il continues to show the world that he uses violence to intimidate and try to prove his might. He is not willing to listen to reason and continues to flout the mandates of the UN.

North Korea: Nuclear Ambition

President Obama is still fighting to prevent North Korea from continuing to develop nuclear weapons. The President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak recently met with President Obama. Together they noted that "under no circumstance are we going to allow North Korea to possess nuclear weapons. We will pursue denuclearization on the Korean peninsula vigorously, " reports the NY Post.

President Obama Calls North Korea "Reckless"

North Korea claimed in 2009 that the country had "successfully tested a nuclear weapon as powerful as the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, notes The Guardian. President Obama noted after this test that "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in north-east Asia," notes the Guardian.

It looks like Hillary Clinton's holiday weekend is likely ending a bit early. She's probably in intense meetings about the North Korea situation. Will diplomacy solve the recent flagrant violations of the truce agreement?

Protests in South Korea

Residents of South Korea are understandably angry about the attacks on their country. They have been participating in riots to protest the attacks of North Korea on their country. To see a video of the protests go HERE.

Follow News Update

To follow news updates on the conflict between North Korea & South Korea go to Reuters HERE.

Sources:

http://twitter.com/Reuters

http://www.nytimes.com/info/north-korea/

http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/national/item_sNNrPkgMdKD4337VwPwkmI

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/25/north-korea-hiroshima-nuclear-test

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011280212754878.html

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/korea_deploys_missiles_near_border_RhqtMdY7xIivQkGJxAl0PL