North Korea - Master of Provocation

손찬송 Son 01/19/2016 20:51 Read : 3,058

Master of provocation.jpg 

(Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images) A Taepodong-class missile on display in 2013. Retrieved from vox.com



North Korea announced a successful hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6, 2016 in their demands to end nuclear testing. Their claims to their readiness to detonate the hydrogen bomb has clearly put them in the spotlight as the world’s concerns of North Korea’s activities rise. However, the public seem to be less aware of the number of times North Korea sent similar messages of provocation in the past which are perilous to the world and the neighboring nations of North Korea.


Especially for South Korea, people are becoming increasingly frustrated of North Korea’s immature actions.  22 year old student, Justin Smith said in an interview “I’m not too worried about the attacks because it doesn’t seem to affect our daily lives at all. I think they are all empty threats from North Korea to get their demands. There is nothing to worry about.” Although, a Realmeter statistic showed a surprising 51.3 percent of people in South Korea who still believe in the small possibility that North Korea will break the ceasefire. Also, according to a South Korean public opinion poll, 57 percent of South Koreans think that North Korean armed provocations are not as critical and not as likely to happen in the future. This is opposed to the 83 percent in the United States of America who think that North Korean armed provocations, especially nuclear bombs, are critical threats. Should the South Koreans’ positivity be applauded or should people start being more aware of the situation?

 

Going back in history, January 21, 1968, North Korean commandos planned to assassinate the then President of South Korea, Chung-Hee Park. Thirty one commandos sneaked into the Blue House, the official residence of the President, but fortunately the assassination attempt ended as an unsuccessful mission.


The Bombardment of Yeonpyeong is also a significant provocation. On November 23rd, 2010, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery rockets and missiles directly at Yeonpyeong Island, causing twenty-six military and civilian casualties.

 

We can just hope for South Korea and the world that history will not repeat itself again.

 




Sources: "Critical Threat" by Martin Gould

 




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