international intrigue

‘If Weather Permits,’ South Korea Will Follow Through on Controversial Artillery Test

South Korea plans to follow through with a U.S.-backed artillery test on Monday or Tuesday, prompting an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council in New York today. Both Moscow and Beijing have called on South Korea to cancel the test, which is set to take place on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, the same territory North Korea suddenly shelled last month. North Korea has issued several threats of retaliation if a new test is conducted. Sounds scary, but this morning, South Korean defense officials said the missile test is nothing to get in a tizzy about: “Usual and justifiable,” a rep for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Meh! “We won’t take into consideration North Korean threats and diplomatic situations before holding the live-fire drill. If weather permits, it will be held as scheduled.” And while Yeonpyeong residents are reportedly fleeing the island, urban South Koreans have shown “few signs of tension.” Apparently, all weekend, “Shopping malls were filled in preparation for the holidays and roads were clogged with people on weekend commutes to and from rural getaways.”

Seoul Nears Test of North Korean Threats [WSJ]
Related: Residents of Seoul Only Mildly Concerned About North Korean Attack

‘If Weather Permits,’ South Korea Will Follow Through on Controversial Artillery Test