Seoul on alert over N. Korea threats

The South Korean government has upped military readiness in response to North Korean threats of "total" confrontation, while stressing that it would remain calm and not overreact.

An unidentified spokesman for the chief of the General Staff of the North`s Korean People`s Army on Saturday delivered a message on the state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station denouncing the South and declaring a showdown with the Lee Myung-bak administration.

"As Lee Myung-bak and his followers have chosen the road to confrontation with the help of outside powers, we have no other choice but to assume a full confrontational stance," the spokesman said.

The message also indicated that the North may attempt military provocation, as Pyongyang said that if further provoked, it would act to "maintain its territory in the West Sea" where the two Koreas remain at odds over naval demarcation.

The North, which protests the de-facto border set by the Northern Limit Line, claimed that the South has continuously invaded its maritime territory.

Naval ships from the two Koreas have engaged in a number of bloody clashes in the West Sea on North Korean provocation.

The confrontational statement came amid an inter-Korean deadlock that started shortly after President Lee`s inauguration in February last year.

The two Koreas clashed over Seoul`s new policy which, while open to dialogue, sees denuclearization coming ahead of all else. Ignoring the calls, Pyongyang demands Seoul first deliver on agreements reached between Kim Jong-il and Lee`s predecessors.

Experts yesterday ruled out the possibility of Pyongyang delivering on its threats, but the South Korean military has been put on high alert.

Cheong Wa Dae said the military would be "fully prepared" but would refrain from overreacting.

"We plan to maintain a low-pitched stance," an official said following emergency meetings.

The ruling Grand National Party`s response was more expressive.

The GNP yesterday severely upbraided the North, saying the Saturday statement mirrored North Korea`s fear and anxiety over the lack of dialogue with the South and the unwavering U.S.-South Korea alliance.

"It has painted itself into a corner, and now it has no idea how to get back to talks with Seoul. It also tried to sabotage the U.S.-South Korea alliance, but that did not work either, so we are seeing a very fearful and nervous North Korea," the party said in a statement.

It urged Pyongyang to return to inter-Korean talks.

"Only the United States and South Korea can help you at this time," the statement said.

In a separate statement on Saturday, Pyongyang said it would hang onto its atomic weapons program until it feels safe from what it called "an ever-present United States nuclear threat."

Hours before the People`s Army message, the North Korean Foreign Ministry declared that it may not abandon its nuclear weapons program even if it normalizes ties with the United States.

Pyongyang`s ties with Washington, despite several breakthrough denuclearization agreements, have remained cool under the outgoing U.S. president George W. Bush.

The impoverished communist state reportedly anticipates a softer Washington after President-elect Obama is sworn in this week so as to enlist more economic and political support from the world`s most powerful nation.

But Obama, despite his campaign promises to meet with the North Korean leader to settle the nuclear issue, has recently indicated that he may not be as accommodating as the North expects.

Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton in a confirmation hearing last week pledged to "aggressively" address denuclearization talks to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com)