After cutting ties, North Korea plans countermeasures

» Officials of the UN Command Military Armistice Commission examine the parts of torpedo at the Ministry of Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, May 25. 　

North Korea has declared that it also plans to respond in a hardline fashion to the South Korean government’s announcement Monday of ultra hardline measures

that impact include military, diplomatic and North Korea policy.

North Korea first said in a warning sent by a Korean People’s Army commander,

immediately after Seoul’s announcement Monday, that it would fire directly on

South Korean loudspeakers, electronic displays and other equipment used for

psychological warfare. It is also highly likely that North Korea will boost the level

of its military response to Seoul’s participation in Proliferation Security Initiative

(PSI) training drills inside and outside the Korean Peninsula.

In an editorial by the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea repeated

Tuesday that it would immediately enact several hardline measures, including full- scale war, against any punishment, retaliation or sanctions leveled against it by the “treasonous gang,” the South Korean government.

It appears North Korea will continue to demand South Korea accept an “inspection team (investigation team)” to examine the results of the Cheonan investigation.

“North Korea’s call for South Korea to accept the team is part of a diplomatic war

to stress its innocence to the international community, including South Korea,

China and Russia, prior to discussions on bringing the Cheonan sinking before the

UN Security Council,” said Inje University Professor Kim Yeon-cheol. “If South

Korea’s diplomatic offensive grows stronger, it is also possible that North Korea

will directly refute the investigation results, citing its own evidence to the

contrary.”

South Korea’s suspension of trade and exchanges with North Korea means that it

is highly possible that North Korea will wait and consider the method and level of

a response rather than issuing an immediate response. Professor Kim said that

because inter-Korean ties were virtually suspended even before the

announcement of Seoul’s measures, there is not much North Korea can do.

The Unification Ministry believes it is possible North Korea will respond on a case- by-case basis by taking steps such as blaming South Korea for breaking contracts regarding ongoing inter-Korean economic cooperation like the procession-on- commission projects and confiscate raw materials already supplied.

In the case of the Kaesong Industrial Zone, the only remaining inter-Korean

cooperation project, many believe North Korea and South Korea will blame one

another for its closing for the time being. Not only is the Kaesong zone an

important source of foreign exchange for North Korea, but it also provides

drinking water for about 100 thousand Kaesong residents. Accordingly, some

believe that North Korea has major internal interests that are a priority ahead of

shutting Kaesong.

“If gunfire breaks out due to South Korea’s resumption of psychological warfare,

it will be difficult for both North Korea and South Korea to continue allowing

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