By The South Korean government as officially responded to the intentional flood caused by the North Koreans two days ago:
North Korea appears to have deliberately opened a dam that sent water surging down a river into South Korea, a top South Korean official said Wednesday, but he stopped short of calling it an attack.
Six South Koreans camping and fishing at the river were swept to their deaths last weekend after North Korea unleashed an estimated 40 million tons of water from a new dam into a river at the border without providing prior notice.
The North acknowledged the release Monday, saying water level were too high. Stopping short of an apology, Pyongyang said it would warn Seoul of similar releases in the future.
South Korean officials rejected the explanation and urged Pyongyang to apologize for the sudden and deadly flooding. Some officials questioned North Korea’s claim of high water levels, noting there had been little rain in areas north of Imjin River in the past week.
Unification Minister Hyun In-taek, who is in charge of relations with North Korea, told lawmakers on Wednesday that it appeared North Korea “intentionally” discharged the water. Hyun did not imply the release was meant as an attack, ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo later said. [Associated Press]
Pretty weak response so far to the intentional killing of six South Korean citizens.
7:30 am on September 9th, 2009 1
“South Korean officials rejected the explanation and urged Pyongyang to apologize for the sudden and deadly flooding.”
Urge an apology? That’s it? At the very least, I’d threaten to close the DMZ to trade and tourism and demand that they pay for damages to the victims and the victims’ families…you know, give them some of their own medicine.
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8:41 pm on September 9th, 2009 2
I take this as a possible sign that things in NK are not well at all…
Given what we know for sure concerning Kim Jong Il’s health and the leadership change moves with the son —- and given everything we’ve watched all the way around for the past couple of years — this flooding to me is something to keep a special eye on.
It could end up being nothing…
…It could however be a sign of desperation.
I took the first nuke and 2nd ICBM test as major signs of that…
I think things must have been pretty dire in NK leadership circles the last couple of years…
I don’t like this flooding thing — (even MORE so since I’m in South Korea now….trying to relocate into the sea-of-fire zone….) (man — PC Bangs are dirt cheap….)
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September 9th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Y-A-W-N….
Tuesday morning quarterbacks have been saying that NK is getting desperate for 40+ years now. The results; the Jonger has been bathing in caviar.
“I don’t like this flooding thing — (even MORE so since I’m in South Korea now….trying to relocate into the sea-of-fire zone….) ”
Spoken like a true newby “fish”. Listen “fish”, you got nothing to worry about. Remove the pot covering your head, and quit jumping under the desk everytime you hear a backfire. Take some friendly advice, find yourself a salty old Canadian to show you the ropes of Korea. You will be OK.
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