N. Korea May Provoke Again, Creates ‘Urgency,’ Mullen Says
North Korea may provoke again, creating a “sense of urgency” for the U.S. and its allies to craft measures deterring Kim Jong Il’s regime from aggravating regional tensions, the top American military chief said.
“We have a sense of urgency to essentially work on planning to deter the North from further provocations,” Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters today in Seoul, according to a pool report provided by the Associated Press. “Whether they will be deterred or not, that’s to be seen.”
North Korea has vowed “never” to deal with President Lee Myung Bak’s administration in South Korea, dashing hopes of easing tensions heightened after attacks blamed on Kim Jong Il’s regime killed 50 South Koreans last year. The standoff has led North Korea to deepen ties with its biggest benefactor China as it becomes increasingly isolated under United Nations sanctions toughened after its second nuclear test.
Lee cut off most trade with North Korea in May 2010, accusing the Kim’s regime of torpedoing one of its warships, killing 46 sailors. In November, the regime shelled a South Korean island near the disputed western sea border, killing another four people including two civilians. The two countries remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire.
‘Not Convinced’
“I’m not convinced that they won’t provoke again,” said Mullen, who arrived in South Korea after a visit to China and before heading to Japan later this week. Mullen attended a ceremony today in Seoul, marking the inauguration of Army General James Thurman as commander of about 28,500 American forces in South Korea.
North Korea’s National Defense Commission, the highest government body, said on May 30 it won’t engage in talks with Lee’s government for insisting on an apology for sinking the warship Cheonan, an allegation it denies. The tensions have dampened the mood for resuming international talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, allowing the regime to continue developing atomic weapons.
China is host of the disarmament talks, also involving South Korea, Japan, Russia and the U.S. The U.S. and China have pushed to strengthen military ties that have been strained over issues including a 2010 U.S. decision to sell arms to Taiwan.
While China has influence over North Korea, “it’s not an infinite amount of influence,” Mullen said, adding China’s military is “very focused” on working at that challenge.
“I just think we also have to have realistic expectations about how much any one country can do,” he said. “I think working together, the power of that, is one of those things that the sum of parts is a lot bigger.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Bomi Lim in Seoul at blim30@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Hirschberg in Hong Kong at phirschberg@bloomberg.net
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