By That is what South Korean President Lee Myung-bak seems to be hinting at with these recent statements:
Strongly insinuating that North Korea was behind the sinking of a Navy warship, President Lee Myung-bak announced major changes in the way South Korea’s military will defend the country.
“It has now become clear that the Cheonan did not sink from a simple accident,” Lee said in an opening address at an unprecedented meeting of military commanders yesterday. “As soon as the incident happened, I realized that it was a grave international issue, that included inter-Korean relations, and made an order to the defense minister to lay bare the cause through international cooperation.”
Lee hosted the meeting of 150 commanders at the Defense Ministry, and the opening speech was broadcast live nationwide. He also announced a plan to create a presidential team to review the national security posture.
“After the cause [of the Cheonan sinking] is revealed, I will take a resolute and stern countermeasure,” Lee said. “But even before the probe outcome comes, we have an immediate task. It is a complete review of our national security posture.”
“Taking into account the peculiar situation of the world’s only divided nation amid hostilities, we must reshape our military’s capabilities,” Lee said. “We must especially check on our readiness against asymmetric capabilities, including special warfare.” [Joong Ang Ilbo]
11:00 am on May 4th, 2010 1
Totally of topic but that is the worst salute I have ever seen. I am not going to bother to look this up, but I bet this guy had to be a draft dodger.
11:06 am on May 4th, 2010 2
Maj.America, I'm fairly sure he was.
"It has now become clear that the Cheonan did not sink from a simple accident" – He should say something, or say nothing. What is the point in saying this?
"As soon as the incident happened, I realized that it was a grave international issue, that included inter-Korean relations" – How would you know that? Did he want it to be North Korea? If he's been working under the assumption that it was North Korea since he first heard about it, what does that say?
"Taking into account the peculiar situation of the world’s only divided nation amid hostilities" – Is he serious? I can't remember the last time the president of a nation was so ignorant… Oh, wait…
11:37 am on May 4th, 2010 3
No mention of military service on Wikipedia.
12:29 pm on May 4th, 2010 4
I love ROK Drop.
There are just enough idiots to keep it interesting… and there are some highly-tuned bullcorn filters.
Who needs any other media outlet for the Real Story?
"He was exempt from military service due to respiratory complications.'
1:15 pm on May 4th, 2010 5
Civilians shouldn't salute. That should be a duty, and a privilege, of uniformed service members.
12:41 am on May 5th, 2010 6
So, which chaebol do you figure will get the blunt of the related government contracts?
2:03 am on May 5th, 2010 7
"So, which chaebol do you figure will get the blunt of the related government contracts?"
Uh… starts with "H" and rhymes with Fun Gay?
3:53 am on May 5th, 2010 8
I have heard that some Koreans are looking to blame the US; not sure what our motivation would be, but why hasn't anyone looked to blame the Japanese? The Japanese could have done this to instigate a war between North and South so they could move in quietly and take Dokdo back from the South.
4:38 am on May 5th, 2010 9
I know you are being sarcastic. But, seeing as how the Japanese has no (is not supposed to have any) offensive military capability. Just the thought of them pulling off such a feat, undetected, in waters heavily patrolled by their rivals and adversaries, is worthy of a Tom Clancy novel.
I marvel at the Japanese ninja special forces.
10:17 am on May 5th, 2010 10
Yes getting his oxygen supply through his a$$ does produce those kinds of complications….
12:43 pm on May 5th, 2010 11
LMB is using the incident to justify military spending and preparedness. Perhaps an increase in the budget as well as and increased posture? As far as any retaliation, it remains to be seen.
The incident has been very well handled so far. It would appear to be leading towards a direct threat to NK. If nothing else it will shake up the NKs.
2:10 pm on May 5th, 2010 12
The 80's j-pop would be more damaging than the missiles.
2:55 pm on May 5th, 2010 13
As predicted, there's apparently ample evidence pointing to the origin of the explosive. It's not official, but the chemical analysis of the shrapnel and the explosive residue is completed (in my experience, an afternoon should have sufficed to run a whole battery of tests on the samples).
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeq…
5:19 pm on May 5th, 2010 14
As good at their NSDF (Ninja Special Defense Force) is, it pales in comparison to their secret robo-mecha soldiers. Just wait … one day something is gonna go down and suddenly we’ll see flying robots with missiles and 80′s style j-pop blaring in the background.