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Journalism of Courage
There is a pattern to the annual crisis on the Korean peninsula that would preclude the possibility of escalation into something more serious this time too,if it were not for North Koreas significantly shriller rhetoric and the increased determination of South Korea and the US to call Pyongyangs bluff. On paper,the North has threatened to hit US cities and the territory of Guam with nuclear- armed ballistic missiles. In reality,its unlikely that Pyongyang has the technology to target the US mainland,and its nuclear arsenal is presumed to be no bigger than four to 10 weapons. But its never impossible to blunder into a war inadvertently,by misreading each others intent.
Although the Korean War technically never ended since a treaty was never signed,further major conflict has been avoided for more than a half-century. The Korean crisis has followed the cycle of Pyongyang expressing outrage at Foal Eagle the annual South Korea-US joint military exercise threatening a response,and then calming down as the exercise ends. This time,however,Pyongyang has a new,inexperienced dictator who is still consolidating his power,and Seoul has a new president,Park Geun-hye,just elected to office. Kim Jong-uns attempt to test her mettle is framed by three incidents the Norths testing of a rocket last December which supposedly put a satellite into orbit; its third nuclear test conducted in February this year; and the US-South Korea drill. Angered by the flight of B-52 bombers and B-2 stealth bombers over South Korea,Pyongyang cut the military hotline with Seoul,declared a state of war with the South,announced the restart of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor,and denied access to South Korean workers at the Kaesong joint industrial complex.
