As South Korea prepares for a live fire artillery exercise in the next few hours one has to wonder what the reaction of North Korea will be? While in New York the United Nations Security Council is meeting in an emergency session at the request of Russia. Hopping to stave off a much wider crisis if as the North Koreans have announced they retaliate against the South if they proceed with the live fire exercise on Yeonpyeong.
What’s unfortunate is that given what the North as achieved through its provocative behavior in the past why shouldn’t they shoot back then wait in anticipation for the rewards they will receive for lying to the world about showing restraint in the future.
South Korea's live fire artillery exercise lasted about 90 minutes with no evidence of any military action from the North. It's the future that should concern all parties as these provocations while not escalating to all out war but low intensity conflict between the two nations causing unwelcome casualties.
Speaking to reporters after more than eight hours of discussions, Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on South Korea to cancel its plans.
"It's better to refrain from doing this exercise at this point in time," he said.
He said the UN had failed to reach an agreement on the crisis, but contacts would be pursued between the main powers.
The issue has threatened to divide permanent members of the Security Council - with China and Russia urging South Korea to put off the exercise, but the US saying its ally is entitled to make sure it is "properly prepared in the face of... ongoing provocations".
The US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said it was "safe to predict that the gaps that remain are unlikely to bridged."
Yonhap is the official news agency for South Korea
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