North and South Korea conflict prompts analysis of origin
As the consequences of North and South Korea’s pent-up tension unfold, Korean students, political science professors and others find themselves asking which country is at fault, and what will keep the countries from war.
The residual effects of a cold war were recently ignited after lingering tension between North and South Korea provoked North Korea to react.
South Korea’s military units were put on high alert Nov. 23 when North Korea attacked Yeonpyeong Island with more than 100 artillery shells. Two marines were killed in the line of fire and wounded soldiers and civilians totaled 18. In defense, South Korea opened artillery fire back to North Korea, and the once-quiet fishing island was abandoned by many of its residents who have not yet returned.
“It is difficult to say who is right and who is wrong in this,” said Kai He, a USU professor of Asian politics.
When North Korea opened fire on South Korea, they felt it was an action of defense because South Korean warships were found in waters too close to their land, he said. This provoked North Korea to feel unsafe, which is why their reaction was “nuclear,” Kai said.
“It’s not the right behavior, but it is rational,” Kai said. “No one can control North Korea, that’s the danger right now. They are a sovereign nation.”
“When I saw the explosion on CNN, it was bad,” said USU student and native South Korean Jun Hee Han. “It didn’t look like they were just protecting themselves, they destroyed an entire village.”
Logan resident and native of China, Ansheng, said he doesn’t believe North Korea set out to kill many people through the attack on Yeonpyeong, but rather to say “don’t push me too hard.” They want surrounding countries to know they are not weak, he said.
East Asian politics professor Heiyun Fung said she agrees North Korea’s behavior was rational, because their country needs protection.
“They need security,” Fung said, “but by attacking South Korea they are asking for it in a way that is not tasteful.”
Han served two and a half years in the South Korean Air Force, and said he is upset with the North Korean government. His immediate family currently resides in Seoul, the South Korean capital where he grew up, and some relatives live in North Korea, but none of his family members know if they are alive, Han said. Han’s uncle fled from North Korea, leaving his family behind, and has not been able to speak with them since.
Han would like to see the two countries unite as one because brothers and sisters, parents and children, are fighting against each other.
“Before what happened now, I felt sorry for North Korea,” Han said. “Their government isolates the whole country so nobody can move. Their people suffer and starve.”
USU student Jeng Kim, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Seoul, said his cousin was not allowed take leave from his mandatory two years of military service to see his family because the tension between North and South Korea is so high. Those who put off their required time in the South Korean military are considered outcasts, Kim said, because this expectation is ingrained into their society.
“The people in South Korea want the government to take a stand,” Kim said, “I think North Korea only has one trump card, which is having nuclear warheads.”
The U.S. has the danger of being involved in this conflict if government operation leaders are not careful, Kai said, but may be able to avoid the tension becoming worse if they agree to participate in the six-party talk China proposed. However, the U.S. will not participate until North Korea issues some sort of apology, Kai said.
Due to the U.S.’s poor economy and the conflict with Iraq in motion, Kai said “we (the U.S.) will do whatever we can to avoid war.”
In winter months, Fung said North Korea usually acts out like a “spoiled child” to receive funding for their country. She said this type of behavior happens in cycles, but South Korea isn’t giving money to them due to their current conservative government lead by President Lee Myung-bak.
Also, the accommodation of a new North Korean leader to succeed Kim Jong-il has caused domestic conflict, Han said.
Han said, “Last time North Korea transitioned to a new leader we almost went to war. I assume that their internal issue is really complicated, which is why this happened.”
“Just like when the U.S. was attacked by terrorists and wanted some type of revenge, well, it’s the same thing for Koreans,” Kim said. “Koreans are pretty prideful, pretty homogenous. But, I kind of think this whole thing is South Korea’s fault, too.”
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu