The hostile hermit

The Korean War technically never ended; it merely concluded with an armistice in 1953. The Korean peninsula therefore remained a potential conflagration point for armed hostility that could stretch beyond a regional politics which,thanks to one of the worlds most secretive and unaccountable regimes in Pyongyang,still harks back to the Cold War. Thats why South Koreas cautious and patient response to the sinking of its warship Cheonan on March 26,killing 46 sailors,close to the disputed maritime boundary is commendable. Seoul didnt charge Pyongyang till the multinational investigation had gathered what it considered sufficient evidence: scraps of a torpedo with distinct markings traced to a North Korean make. Now,South Korea has suspended trade and other cooperative activities with the North and demanded an apology.

The problem of making Pyongyang behave responsibly is that neither sanctions nor military threats apparently work. Military conflict would spell disaster for the peninsula and beyond,while sanctions dont seem to hurt the regime per se. However,the North,with a starving population dependent on aid,relies on Beijing and Seoul for almost 80 per cent of its external trade. The South invested in the Norths industry to boost the latters sunken economy and promote peace. Thus,suspending trade and possibly referring Pyongyang to the UNSC is the most Seoul could do.

Pyongyang has threatened all-out war if further sanctions are imposed. As the US backs Seoul and appeals to China,Beijing with the most leverage over Pyongyang must pressure the North. There are tensions within the regime,with the prospect of a leadership change. This is the fifth major attack on a South Korean target blamed on Pyongyang since 1967; and Seoul threatens to resume psychological warfare and prepare for a tough response hereafter. The international community must spare no effort. In time,the six-party talks too will have to be resumed to bring North Korea out of the domain of the macabre. For now,the era of hopeful engagement between the Koreas is over.