'저는 그들의 땅을 지키기 위하여 싸웠던 인디안들의 이야기를 기억합니다. 백인들이 그들의 신성한 숲에 도로를 만들기 위하여 나무들을 잘랐습니다. 매일밤 인디안들이 나가서 백인들이 만든 그 길을 해체하면 그 다음 날 백인들이 와서 도로를 다시 짓곤 했습니다. 한동안 그 것이 반복되었습니다. 그러던 어느날, 숲에서 가장 큰 나무가 백인들이 일할 동안 그들 머리 위로 떨어져 말과 마차들을 파괴하고 그들 중 몇몇을 죽였습니다. 그러자 백인들은 떠났고 결코 다시 오지 않았습니다….' (브루스 개그논)





For any updates on the struggle against the Jeju naval base, please go to savejejunow.org and facebook no naval base on Jeju. The facebook provides latest updates.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Text Fwd: [Analysis] Full participation in PSI could lead to inter-Korean confrontation



* Image source/ caption*
Same as the original articles below

'Members of Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea hold a press conference to criticize the fact that the government sent delegate to the PSI conference in Washington in front of Foreign Minister in Seoul on March 29 2008.' http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/345206.html

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile, used to intercept an incoming ballistic missile, being launched March 17 during a test at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. (Source: U.S. Missile Defense Agency via Bloomberg News)
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/345208.html

[Analysis] Full participation in PSI could lead to inter-Korean confrontation : It is not clear how the North would react to S. Korean participation, but one report suggests there would be an ‘offensive’ response Posted on : Mar.20,2009 10:10 KST Modified on : Mar.20,2009 12:34 KST

The South Korean government is toying with the idea of increased participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative on weapons of mass destruction, in anticipation of North Korea’s announced “satellite launch” early next month. A core government official said, “Whether it’s a missile or a satellite, the thing North Korea is launching is a weapon of mass destruction,” adding that “because the PSI was formed in the interests of preventing the proliferation of WMDs, a need is arising” to join in efforts for military security.

The South Korean government is toying with the idea of increased participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative on weapons of mass destruction in response to North Korea’s imminent rocket launch. A core government official said, “Whether it’s a missile or a satellite, the thing North Korea is launching is a weapon of mass destruction,” adding that “because the PSI was formed in the interests of preventing the proliferation of WMDs, a need is arising” to join in efforts for military security.

South Korea is currently participating in the PSI in the status of observer, engaging in only five of the PSI’s eight activities. This follows repeated requests in early 2006 from the George W. Bush administration. Since then, in spite of constant calls by the United States for expanded participation, it has held off on the remaining three activities, namely providing material support during interdiction exercises within the region, providing material support for such exercises outside the region, and formally declaring its participation.

Full-on participation in the PSI could easily lead to disaster in inter-Korean relations. If a vessel suspected of carrying WMD-related materials such as nuclear substances enters the territorial waters of a nation formally participating in the PSI, that nation is required to mobilize its military and coast guard, stop the vessel and search it. If this search turns up such materials, the nation takes measures such as confiscation and expulsion.

North Korea is a major target of the PSI, and if it objects to these measures, it could lead to an armed clash between South and North. In an October 2006 research report entitled “North Korea and the Proliferation Security Initiative on Weapons of Mass Destruction,” the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses stated that “North Korea’s response to the PSI will be offensive and omnidirectional.” The report also predicted that there was a strong possibility North Korea would “apply military pressure, for example mobilizing its military might to attempt provocations at the Northern Limit Line, in order to hinder the participation of South Korea.” And on October 27, 2006, while he was serving as First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, current Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan said at the National Assembly that “If we carry out the PSI on weapons of mass destruction in the waters around the Korean Peninsula, there is a strong possibility of a military clash in light of the situation of military confrontation, and because of that we are not participating in it.”

Material support during interdiction exercises within and outside the region could also give the appearance of South Korean cooperation in a blockade of North Korea. If multinational military and coast guard vessels congregate to search suspicious vessels in South Korean territorial waters adjacent to those of North Korea or in the surrounding sea area, North Korea could mobilize its naval forces in response. It was for this reason that the Roh Moo-hyun administration drew a clear line when the possibility of full South Korean participation in the PSI was examined as a plan for sanctions against the North immediately after its 2006 nuclear test. “Our policy is to decide the level of our measures related to expanded participation in the PSI under the principle of not taking measures aimed at a maritime blockade of North Korea,” said then Cheong Wa Dae National Security Advisor Song Min-soon at the time.

But changes in this current have been detected since the Lee Myung-bak administration took office. It began in January 2008 when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated in an operational report for the presidential transition team that there was “a need to examine formal participation as a PSI member country.” And Minister of National Defense Lee Sang-hee hinted at an intent to participate fully during a National Assembly inquiry on February 16, saying, “With North Korea developing long-range missiles and nuclear capabilities, the time has come to reexamine participating militarily in the PSI.”

Opposition parties have pointed out the need for circumspect measures in consideration of inter-Korean relations. Lawmaker Moon Hak-jin, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, said that there was “a sense that the government is rushing into things.” Moon stated the need to “deal with the situation after giving it deep consideration.”

Democratic Labor Party spokesperson Woo Wi-young criticized what she called the “fire-back tactics” of using the PSI in response to North Korea’s satellite launch, saying that it “doesn’t help the situation of tension on the Korean Peninsula at all.”

And New Progressive Party spokesman Kim Jong-cheol urged the government to withdraw its plans to examine participation in the PSI, saying, “What is needed now is not the PSI but sincere dialogue to relieve the hardening of inter-Korean relations.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company.

* Related article*
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/345208.html
North’s satellite launch may prompt South to agree to full participation in the PSI: Government appears to be surveying its capacity to provide the material support full participation would require



* Relate Korean essays and statemens*

http://www.peacekorea.org/main/board/view.php?id=jws&no=246
[칼럼] 광명성 2호는 대한민국 안보를 위협하는가?
Is the North Korea satellite, Kwangmyungsung No. 2 threatening to the security of the South Korea? By Cheong, Wooksik, Peace Network, March 20, 2009


http://blog.peoplepower21.org/Peace/30783
위기관리가 필요할 때 군사적 긴장 고조시킬 PSI 전면 참여라니
What a words of the PSI full participation increasing the military tension when the crisis management is needed! By Park, Jung-Eun, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), March 20, 2009

* Related blog *

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/video-fwd-missile-defense-advocacy.html
Video Fwd: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance(MDAA) BREAKING VIDEO: 6 for 6
Thursday, March 19, 2009

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/text-fwd-us-anticipates-multiple-n.html
Text Fwd: U.S. Anticipates Multiple N. Korean Missiles
Thursday, March 19, 2009

No comments:

Post a Comment