Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
South Korea's Lee says unity vital to counter North
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
South Korea's Lee says unity vital to counter North
Reuters - Tuesday, December 28
Send
IM Story
Print
By Jack Kim
SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called for national solidarity against military aggression by the North on Monday, saying Pyongyang looks for division in the South as an opportunity to strike.
Lee has sharpened his language against the North after coming under pressure over a perceived weak response to two North Korean attacks this year that raised tension on the peninsula to the highest level since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The clashes have led some analysts to say the chance of a wider conflict is greater than ever.
In the latest rhetorical sparring, the North last week threatened a nuclear "sacred war" and Lee vowed "a merciless counterattack" against any fresh North Korean attacks as rare large-scale military drills by the South kept tension high.
"We can't afford to have division of 'you against me' in the face of national security, because what's at stake is our very lives and the survival of this nation," Lee said in a national radio address.
Lee said it was divided public opinion after the North's attack on a South Korean navy ship in March, in which 46 sailors were killed, that had prompted the North to bombard a South Korean island near a disputed sea border last month.
North Korea, a reclusive state that has defied international efforts to curtail its nuclear program, denies responsibility for the ship attack.
"It is when we show solidarity as one that the North dares not challenge us. Their will to challenge breaks," he said.
Lee took office in 2008 and ended a decade of free-flowing economic aid to the impoverished North from his two liberal predecessors that persisted despite previous acts of violence against the South.
But he has come under criticism for being indecisive and ineffective against the North's military acts.
"TRIGGER-HAPPY"
Analysts said the frequency and severity of aggressive North Korean action had pushed Lee against a political wall and he had little choice but to order harsh retaliation which could spark wider conflict.
A survey by pollster Realmeter showed support for Lee edged higher, above 45 percent, in a poll conducted after he pressed ahead with live-fire military drills this month despite diplomatic pressure from China and Russia to suspend it.
South Korea's Defence Ministry said there would be more defensive and routine drills at sea off all coasts this week, with some live firing expected, prompting the North to say the peninsula was being pushed to the brink of war.
The United States, which has around 28,000 troops in South Korea, has backed the military exercises and participated in joint drills earlier this year.
The Pentagon said on Monday that Defence Secretary Robert Gates will visit Seoul on January 14, just weeks after the top U.S. military officer travelled there.
Gates and his South Korean counterpart will discuss North Korea's recent actions and ways the allies can "address the threats posed by North Korean provocations and its nuclear and missile programs," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.
North Korea's main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, on Monday accused South Korea and the United States of trying to start a war and praised the North's "self-restraint."
"The U.S. and South Korean trigger-happy elements should not misjudge the will of to preserve peace but immediately stop their reckless military provocations aimed at screwing up the tension on the Korean peninsula," it said.
Government researchers in Seoul say the North could attack five disputed islands under South Korean control off the west coast next year, perhaps in connection with the succession in North Korea's leadership from the ailing Kim to his youngest son.
"Competition in the military to express loyalty for successor Kim Jong-un will intensify, increasing instability and the possibility of sudden provocation against the South," the Institute for National Security Strategy said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
England close in on Ashes series victory AFP - 19 minutes ago
Japan bakery scores surprise hit with 'edible iPhone' AFP - 2 hours 13 minutes ago
Japan DPJ's Ozawa to appear at ethics panel Reuters - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
Australian surfer champ Gilmore attacked: report AFP - 2 hours 21 minutes ago
Japan's Ozawa to appear at ethics panel over scandal Reuters - 2 hours 37 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Tail end of US blizzard sows travel chaos
Iraq oil production tops 2.6m barrels a day
PepsiCo's Russia deal gets initial go-ahead
Oil prices climb on US, European weather woes
Israel to close door on African influx
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Playboy's Hefner proposes to 24-year-old Playmate
Indonesia's dragons draw tourists to 'Jurassic' islands
Israel to close door on African influx
Tail end of US blizzard sows travel chaos
Naked Aphrodite on Cyprus passport causes stir
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 28 December 2010 Twin suicide bombings kill 17 in Iraq's Ramadi
Parcel bomb found at Greek embassy in Rome
Tail end of US blizzard sows travel chaos
Swine flu kills 56 in Egypt since October
Iraq oil production tops 2.6m barrels a day
U.S. embassy in London was a target of UK suspects
|
Taliban car bomb kills three in Kandahar
PepsiCo's Russia deal gets initial go-ahead
Iraq twin bombings kill seven
US-TECH Summary
Oil prices climb on US, European weather woes
Netanyahu says interim deal possible if talks fail
|
'Three die, 12 hurt in Afghan car bomb attack'
Suicide bomber kills 3 in south Afghanistan
Pakistan regional party says ministers to quit
|
Suicide car bomb kills 3 in south Afghan city
Car bomb kills 3 in south Afghan city
Zaheer, Harbajhan boost India in S.Africa Test
Venezuela arrests more than 12,000 for drug crimes
|
Blast in south Afghan city of Kandahar kills 3
Suspect identified in Philippine Christmas attack
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Natalie Portman pregnant, engaged to French dancer
IMF gives Pakistan nine-month extension on loan
Bubbles key to New Year's champagne: study
Hanoi's bird man sees legacy stolen, eaten
IMF extends Pakistan loan as economic reforms drag
Japan's sushi chefs to go on global training mission
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end up; rupee firms
Tel Aviv bourse seeks to become high-tech centre
|
US-TECH Summary
New Kindle becomes Amazon's all-time best seller
Germany reports 'sharp rise' in cyberattacks
Tel Aviv bourse seeks to become high-tech centre
Alanis Morissette gives birth to son
|
Natalie Portman pregnant, engaged to French dancer
|
Iran hangs 'Mossad spy'
Bomb at Rome embassy linked to anarchist attacks
Germans detained in Iran meet families
Russia finds oil tycoon guilty in second trial
Nine remanded in custody over British 'bomb plot'
Netanyahu says interim deal possible if talks fail
Japan DPJ's Ozawa to appear at ethics panel
|
Strike call fails to hit main Ivory Coast city and ports
|
No Israel apology on Turkish ship raid: Netanyahu
|
Microfinance faces hurdles in empowering Afghan women
|
Oscar ballots get mailed to voters
Nobel laureate Liu celebrates 55th birthday in prison
Wild Oats XI yacht leads Sydney to Hobart race
I overstepped the mark with umpire, says Ponting
South Korea's Lee says unity vital to counter North
Sandra Bullock in, "Jersey Shore" out in neighbor poll
New species abound in Peru, but so do threats
Pakistan regional party says ministers to quit
'Little Fockers' tops N.American box office
Flooding prompts evacuations in Australian towns
Elton John becomes father of Christmas baby
Seoul shares open up modestly on autos, techs
Oscar nomination ballots sent to voters
IMF extends Pakistan loan as economic reforms drag
Chris Brown hints at Justin Bieber collaboration
Japan industrial output up 1 percent in November
Oscar ballots get mailed to voters
Ryan Gosling gives fans another acting "Valentine"
Kylie Minogue defends racy 'All the Lovers' video
Elton John becomes father of Christmas baby
|
Sandra Bullock in, Jersey Shore out in neighbor poll
|
Ryan Gosling gives fans another acting Valentine
|
Chris Brown hints at Justin Bieber collaboration
|
Oscar ballots get mailed to voters
|
Hangover stuntman injured during Thai shoot
|
Parents of reporter held in Afghanistan speak out
Russia slams Western pressure over Khodorkovsky
Alcatel-Lucent pays US fine on corruption charges
Parents in plea for French journalist held in Afghanistan
Iran hangs man convicted of spying for Mossad
Russia accuses West of meddling in tycoon Khodorkovsky's trial
|
UAE considered keeping Hamas hit under wraps: WikiLeaks
|
Official: Afghan police defuse motorcycle bomb
Official: Afghan police have defused bike bomb
Iran hangs man convicted of spying for Mossad: IRNA
|
U.S. embassy in London was a target of UK suspects
|
Nigeria says at least 80 died in Jos attacks
|
Small blast at Karachi's main university
|
Thailand ends emergency rule in part of restive south
Japan DPJ's Ozawa to appear at ethics panel
US missile salvo 'kills 15' in Pakistan
Small blast at Karachi's main university
Somali pirates free tanker, seize cargo ship
|
U.S. Northeast digs out after storm snarls travel
England close in on Ashes as Australia crash
Factbox
Belarus' Lukashenko reshuffles govt, names new PM
|
Japan's 'Shadow Shogun' to testify over funds scandal
Venezuelan ex-leader Perez to get US burial: daughter
Australian surfer champ Gilmore attacked: report
Anger festers in politically divided Thailand
Japan's deflation persists, but rising output provides hope
Floods force evacuations in eastern Australia
Investors line up for first IPOs in communist Laos
Japan bakery scores surprise hit with 'edible iPhone'
Japan sounds alarm as yen rises against dollar
IPhone and iPad users sue Apple over privacy issues
|
Japan's Ozawa to appear at ethics panel over scandal
SK Energy inks deal to develop lithium batteries with Formosa
Alcatel agrees to settle bribery case for $137 million
|
Chinatrust makes 'biggest bid for AIG Taiwan unit'
Barnes & Noble loses bid to end Nook lawsuit
|
Q+A
Amazon says Kindle holding its own against tablets
|
Hitachi says in talks with Hon Hai on panel tie-up
|
Pakistan
Germany plans cyber-warfare defense center
|
LG Group aims to lift 2011 sales by 11 percent
|
China shrinks rare earths export quota
AMD expects non-cash gain from GlobalFoundries
|
Vinashin given interest-free loans to pay salaries
Saudi court delays beaten Indonesian maid's case
Tel Aviv bourse seeks to become high-tech center
|
China miner gives $7.5M after 22 killed by breach
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights