South Korea warns of North Korea "provocations", U.S. navy group approaches

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South Korea warns of North Korea "provocations", U.S. navy group approaches

By Ju-min Park

REUTERS

 

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea, April 8, 2017. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matt Brown/Handout via Reuters

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's acting president warned on Tuesday of "greater provocations" by North Korea as tension on the Korean peninsula rises over concern the North may conduct a test of its military hardware in coming days.

 

A U.S. Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is en route to the western Pacific with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria.

 

South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered the military to intensify monitoring of the North's activities and to ensure close communication with the ally the United States.

 

"It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former President Park Geun-hye was removed over a graft scandal.

 

The North convenes a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved.

 

Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un.

 

A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities.

 

The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by its KCNA news agency earlier on Tuesday, said the U.S. navy strike group's move near the Korean peninsula showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase".

 

"We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said.

 

SANCTIONS WARNING

 

Delegates from around the North have been arriving in Pyongyang ahead of the assembly session. They visited statues of previous leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il, state media reported.

 

North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

 

The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes.

 

The U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson cancelled a planned trip to Australia and was moving toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters over the weekend.

 

Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme.

 

China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said.

 

As well as the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth, there are several other North Korean anniversaries in April that could be opportunities for weapon tests, South Korean officials have said.

 

The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

 

(Editing by Jack Kim, Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-11

[darksidedog]

I do not see America firing anything into the North, without the full prior approval from China, which I also do not see happening.

The only way anything will happen is if the North are stupid enough to make an offensive move, leaving retaliation as an option.

[Rob13]

The problem comes if NK calls trumps bluff. 

[than]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I do not see America firing anything into the North, without the full prior approval from China, which I also do not see happening.

The only way anything will happen is if the North are stupid enough to make an offensive move, leaving retaliation as an option.

 

I'm agree , i not sure US want to restart a war in Korea peninsula. There are not peace treaty between the two Korea and a strike by US could be seen as a violation of Korean armistice agreement and could lead to a new conflict with uncertainty about the reaction of china.

[anon4546543]

2 hours ago, than said:

 

I'm agree , i not sure US want to restart a war in Korea peninsula. There are not peace treaty between the two Korea and a strike by US could be seen as a violation of Korean armistice agreement and could lead to a new conflict with uncertainty about the reaction of china.

There is an armistice agreement with Nth Korea but technically many countries are still at war with Nth Korea should the terms of the armistice be broken. North Korea has broken the rules many, many times. All interested countries have always tried to be tolerant. Now Nth Korea is a real threat to the stability of all of Asia. China has not done a thing to try and influence this unstable country other than to apparently ban coal sales to NK.

I feel sorry for the crew of the Carl Vinson battle group which were looking forward to some R and R in Australia and are now faced with a real and personal threat. The same for all military forces on both sides who are nothing if not patriotic in defending some possible battle that they have no right to veto. All are just the sharp edge to the last resort in foreign policy. Hope it all turns out ok for all the military, prepared to die for some idiot politicians on some idiot idealism.   

[funandsuninbangkok]

12 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I do not see America firing anything into the North, without the full prior approval from China, which I also do not see happening.

The only way anything will happen is if the North are stupid enough to make an offensive move, leaving retaliation as an option.

US would never base a strike against an enemy on approval from another country. They have the greatest military force on the planet and the President makes the call. 

[onthesoi]

12 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I do not see America firing anything into the North, without the full prior approval from China, which I also do not see happening.

The only way anything will happen is if the North are stupid enough to make an offensive move, leaving retaliation as an option.

 

It will depend on how badly Trump is doing in the polls ...if NK 'makes an offensive move' or not.

[jerojero]

US would never base a strike against an enemy on approval from another country. They have the greatest military force on the planet and the President makes the call. 

You perhaps forgot a couple qualifiers or adjectives. US would strike regardless of what any other country says. President makes the call arbitrarily despite Congress or allies objecting. Largest perhaps, not greatest, as size descriptor is not great, greater, greatest which further implies arrogance not capability.

[Davidoffal]

Looking forward to the war. I've got a fridge full of beer and some chips. Should be interesting to watch

[Thechook]

6 hours ago, onthesoi said:

 

It will depend on how badly Trump is doing in the polls ...if NK 'makes an offensive move' or not.

The U.S couldnt beat them last time and will probably get spanked again.  Little kimmie wouldnt be afraid of the U.S and will let all hell break loose.

[ilostmypassword]

12 minutes ago, Thechook said:

The U.S couldnt beat them last time and will probably get spanked again.  Little kimmie wouldnt be afraid of the U.S and will let all hell break loose.

Actually, it was China that the UN forces couldn't beat last time. In fact, in a conventional war, South Korea alone could easily defeat the North. Which is maybe the chief reason why the North has nuclear weapons.