This weekend, the U.S. and South Korea were playing war games which caused North Korea to threaten a “physical response”. Earlier this year, North Korea sunk a South Korean warship and also has a nuclear program that are both expected to hurt the North Korean economy.
'Grave threat’ used by North Korea to describe the U.S. games
This weekend, South Korea and the U.S. have teamed up to do military exercises with about 8,000 individuals which caused the North Korean threats. Ri Tong Il was reported by CNN to call these exercises “another example of a hostile policy” against North Korea. He went on to say that the war games are a grave threat to the Korean peninsula and the entire Asian region. The “Invincible Spirit” exercise can be from July 25 to July 28.
Military responds to sinking of Cheonan
It was already just a little stressful being within the Korean region, but the exercises being done by the military are making it a little more stressful. The newest threat has come just four months after the Cheonan sinking which killed 46 sailors, reports the Associated Press. North Korea is denying playing any part although an investigation shows otherwise. Now we see North Korea’s familiar belligerence, and also the U.S. has decided that there will be no more talks with the north.
North Korean Sanctions created to stop bad leaders
Hilary Clinton announced a program that will deny goods and funding to North Korea. The Guardian reports that new U.S. sanctions would target 200 North Korean-held foreign bank accounts thought to be connected with illegal activities such as nuclear weapons development, drug trafficking and counterfeiting. Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are where there is expected to be a $4 billion slush fund hidden by Kim Jong-il reports the Chosun Ilbo.
Desperate North Korea acting out
North Korean leaders are desperate so they continue to threaten the U.S. and South Korea. Voice of America reports that North Korea is already suffering from poor harvests, a manufacturing slump, U.S. sanctions and a reduction of international aid. Some are worried that a famine like the one within the 1960’s that killed thousands, might occur once more in North Korea. Intense famine could lead the North Korean government to respond with harsher restrictions on the already destitute masses in one of the world’s poorest, most isolated nations.
Find more details on this topic
CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/north.korea.threat/index.html?npt=NP1
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/north-korea-threatens-physical-response
Voice of America
voanews.com/english/news/Sanctions-Expected-to-Harm-North-Korean-Economy-99090344.html?refresh=1
