by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

The communist regime in the north is not ruling out military action at the maritime border west of the peninsula. Government propaganda speaks of "an historic chapter in the unification of the people," and calls upon the citizens to be "a single body" with the army. South Korean president Lee appoints a new minister for unification.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - Pyongyang is announcing an "all-out confrontational posture" toward South Korea, and is not excluding military action at the border, heightening the situation of tension between the two countries just before the swearing-in of newly elected U.S. president Barack Obama.

The communist regime in the north seems to want to revive the policy of "confrontation" toward Seoul, and is preparing for the eventuality of war, over questions inherent to control of the border between the two countries. "As the South opted for the road to confrontation with the help of outside powers, ignoring the call for conciliation and cooperation among the Korean people, our revolutionary armed forces have no choice but to take an all-out confrontational posture to trample on it." This is the message issued by an unidentified spokesman of the North Korean army, announcing "strong" military action at the Northern Limit Line, the maritime border west of the Korean peninsula, at the heart of a decade-long dispute between the two countries. The area has extensive fishing resources, and in the past was the object of genuine armed conflict. Established by the United Nations at the end of the Korean war, the maritime border is not recognized by the Pyongyang government, which accuses South Korean ships of invading its territorial waters.

The statements of the North Korean military spokesman could foreshadow new tensions at the border, at a time when diplomatic relations between the two Koreas seem to be deteriorating. The danger is that the verbal skirmishes could turn into genuine clashes, as took place in 1999 and 2002. News comes from North Korea of a campaign orchestrated by the communist party, reinforcing the idea of "unity between the people and the army," and announcing "extraordinary events" concerning "the fatherland." The documents produced by the party in Pyongyang tell of "an historic chapter in the unification of the people." "Let the army and the people unite as one body and make a strong nation. Even if war does not erupt at this hour, the attitude for fighting has to be maintained at all times."

Yesterday, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak, in order to address the crisis facing the country, decided to reshuffle his cabinet, dismissing the ministers of finance and unification. To head the office for relations with the North, President Lee appointed Hyun In-taek, a professor of international relations at Korea University, and considered a "hawk" in this area. It is a strong signal from the head of state to his counterpart, emphasizing that he will not give ground on the North Korean nuclear question and the threats of the communist regime.

• korea
• border
• dispute
• war
• conflict
• army
• military
• fighting
• nuclear
• program
• united
• nations