North Korea: A Nuisance

Now is the time to strike. North Korea has shown that it is the aggressor by attacking South Korea without any provocation. This calls for retaliation.

On November 23, 2010, North Korea shelled the island of Yeonpyeong of the coast of Incheon, South Korea, which is situated near North Korean waters. The shelling killed two marines, two civilians, and wounded sixteen others. The civilian population was evacuated to the mainland. Charred forests and nearly thirty destroyed buildings were left in the aftermath. On March 26 of this year, North Korea sunk the ROKS Cheonan with a torpedo, killing 46 seamen.

South Korea knows how it needs to respond to North Korea’s belligerent behavior. South Korea parliament member Yoo Seung Min stated, “The only solution is to deliver precise strikes on North Korean positions first through a massive air attack in the early stages of a war.” I agree wholeheartedly. At a rally in Seoul, veterans shredded and burned North Korean flags and protested the North Korean leadership. One veteran, Kim Jin Gyu, said he felt that “[South Korea] should just smash [North Korea] up” in retaliation for the attacks, adding that he has “had enough.” The government should give the veterans what they want – I’m sure they would like to see victory before they die.

My friend, whose name I will not disclose, was shipped to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea two days after the attack by North Korea. The United States also sent the U.S.S. George Washington, a supercarrier, to South Korea. And the United States already has over 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, so we’re prepared.

It was recently revealed that China has decided to stop backing North Korea if the situation escalates. A propitious turn of events, this means that North Korea would not have the support it had during the first Korean War. A weakened North Korea is a prime target for a South Korean and American counterattack.

North Korea has, however, provided Iran with improved ballistic missiles, strengthening a country that wants to destroy Israel and the United States. This signifies that North Korea still has at least one ally – an ally that is considered a threat and enemy of NATO. Helping Iran is practically declaring war on the United States and Israel. Just like Japan and Germany were allies during World War II, Iran and North Korea have united today. But this is yet another reason for the United States to attack; we have a pretext.

At the end of the day, North Korea has: 1.) killed South Korean civilians without provocation in a military strike; 2.) lost support from its strongest ally; and 3.) provided missiles to a country hell-bent on the destruction of Israel and the United States. I believe that South Korea and the United States would be fully justified in carpet bombing Pyongyang’s administrative buildings and all of the North Korea’s military bases. A joint invasion followed by a South Korean occupation and reconstruction would be a good plan to follow after the bombing. We have the chance to put an end to this illegitimate state that misleadingly calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so let’s take it.