China news says N. Korea ‘countered’ artillery firing by South

US media may view a conflict between the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) an act of aggression by the communist North. But China’s official news service Xinhua is characterizing the exchange of fire between the two countries as a response by the North to ‘counter’ artillery firing by the South.

Xinhua said, “The army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) countered South Korean artillery firing with ‘determined military measures’ on Tuesday afternoon, the official news agency KCNA reported.” Xinhua characterized South Korea’s actions as a military provocation.

Map from CIA World Factbook.Xinhua also said, “According to the KCNA, South Korea insisted on hold [sic] military exercises ignoring the repeated warning of the DPRK and shot toward the waters of DPRK with dozens of shells around Yonphyong Islet at 1:00 o'clock p.m. local time on Tuesday afternoon.”

This is the second recent incident where North Korea has taken military action against South Korea. An international investigation blamed the communist country for sinking a South Korean ship in March. Media said 46 sailors were killed.

In May, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton said the world “must act.” Japan Today reported Clinton said: “This was an unacceptable provocation by North Korea and the international community has a responsibility and a duty to respond.”

The world of course did not act.

JAPAN’S NORTH KOREA PROBLEM
Japan has understandably expressed concern about North Korea. In April, 2009, Japan Times reported concern over a rocket fired by the communist state:  “The missile, which Pyongyang claimed was carrying a satellite, blasted off from the Musudan-ri launch facility at 11:30 a.m. despite warnings from Tokyo and Washington that it would violate U.N. resolutions banning the North from ballistic activity.”

The blog Ampontan (“Japan from the Inside Out”) commented on Japan’s foreign policy after a news conference in early November after media quizzed Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku Yoshito about “criticism that the foreign policy pursued by Prime Minister Kan vis-à-vis China and Russia was weak, and that the people felt apprehensive about it.”

The secretary’s response sounded similar to foreign policy positions held by leftwingers in the U.S. Ampontan said Yoshito stated, “The people who are apprehensive are over-conceptualizing the opposition between two countries using a 19th century or Cold War type of thinking. This excessively limits the discussion to whether (foreign policy is) strong or weak.”

Ampontan—really one of the most creatively written blogs in the ‘sphere—concluded, “To partially paraphrase Leon Trotsky, you may not be interested in that backwards 19th century / Cold War way of thinking, but China and Russia are very interested in that behavior and how you respond to it. Reality, as Thomas Sowell likes to say, is not optional. Mr. Sengoku may believe that excessively limits the discussion, but whatever it is the current government is trying to do in the real world hasn’t been effective for dealing with its neighbors.”

CHINA HAS THE REAL POWER
China has the real power when it comes to N. Korea. China is that country’s biggest trading partner. Judging by reports in China media, not much will happen to the poverty stricken North. Besides the trading power, China has a vested interest in containing immigration from North Korea.

The CIA World Factbook said,“[R]isking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression…”

The UN Security Council plans to meet. In June that political body issued a resolution regarding North Korea and non-proliferation. The UN body has traditionally been rather like a child throwing a tantrum and it is not likely real action will be taken. After all, the UN has long permitted dictators to get away with whatever they wanted to. Saddam Hussein is but one example.

[Analysis by Kay B. Day/Nov. 23, 2010]

Update on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 11:19AM by Kay B. Day, Editor

CNBC says Russia sees 'Colossal Danger.' The whole world sees the same thing. Except for China. China holds the cards on this matter and all the Chinese are saying is 'Let's talk.' This is the sad vacuum created by a communist state holding a large margin of power in the world.