The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard

  • 3

    Korea to allow online permit-free entry for tourists from 22 nations to spur spending

  • 5

    Actor Yoo Ah-in once again apologizes for alleged drug use

  • 7

    'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand

  • 9

    Ramsar wetland in Han River cleaned up for protected birdlife

  • 11

    Civic groups in Gwangju await meeting with Chun Doo-hwan's grandson

  • 13

    BTS' Jimin tops Spotify's global chart with 'Like Crazy'

  • 15

    Over 1,000 financially vulnerable Koreans apply for new emergency gov't loans

  • 17

    Suspect identified in Nashville school shooting that killed 3 children, 3 staff

  • 19

    Samsung Pay partners with Hana Financial to issue student IDs

  • 2

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson apprehended at Incheon Int'l Airport over drug use

  • 4

    Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors

  • 6

    Gold price nears all-time high amid financial jitters

  • 8

    BMW launches new XM

  • 10

    North Korea unveils tactical nuclear warheads

  • 12

    CJ CheilJedang sees chicken as next big seller after frozen dumpling

  • 14

    2024 budget to focus on tackling low birthrate

  • 16

    INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'

  • 18

    Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'

  • 20

    Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Thu, March 30, 2023 | 00:58
Editorial
Escalating tensions on peninsula
Posted : 2022-10-07 17:00
Updated : 2022-10-07 17:10
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Well-conceived tactics needed to tackle repeated provocations

South Korea and the United States resumed joint drills with a U.S. aircraft carrier on Friday in response to North Korea's repeated military provocations. The North flew 12 fighter jets and bombers on Thursday, prompting the South to deploy 30 fighters around the heavily fortified border area. Hours earlier, the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The North's military maneuvers came in defiance of the redeployment of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group near the peninsula and the convening of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the North Korea issue. Military tensions have been escalating on the Korean Peninsula amid intensifying military postures by South Korea and the U.S., inciting North Korea to take countermeasures.

North Korea's foreign ministry lambasted the U.S. for repositioning the nuclear-armed U.S. aircraft carrier, stoking anxiety it would seriously undermine security on the peninsula. It also criticized the U.S. for convening the UNSC meeting over the missile launches, describing them as a "just countermeasure" against the joint drills between the U.S. and South Korea.

The North cried foul over the U.S. move as an excuse for its military provocations in an apparent bid to prod the Joe Biden administration to offer compromises. Yet such an approach by the North is unlikely to win the support of the Biden government. North Korea should squarely face reality and stop its tactics of repeating military provocations.

The Yoon Suk-yeol government held a meeting of the National Security Council, warning that the North would be met with stronger countermeasures. Yoon had a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, agreeing on the need to strengthen bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation including the U.S.

It is natural for the allies to take proactive steps against the North's provocations. Yet, on the other hand, it is also necessary to seek ways to promote peace on the peninsula instead of the current hectic buildup of military confrontation. South Korea also needs to adopt a cautious approach in dealing with the Japan issue despite the need to improve bilateral relations.

Only focusing on the military issue would possibly weaken Seoul's diplomatic leverage in handling pending issues with Japan, such as its forced labor of Korean workers during World War II. The Yoon administration should refrain from taking hasty measures only to make progress in relations with Japan. A rigid military posture could possibly trigger accidental military clashes.

Growing confrontation will also impose further security burdens for South Korea. Despite the need to maintain a proper defense posture against North Korea's provocations, the allies should adopt wiser and more comprehensive approaches while respecting their different national interests. This also prompts the need for the Yoon administration to adopt more well-conceived strategies.

As expected, the UNSC meeting ended without tangible results due to opposition from China and Russia. This is disappointing as it will only heighten tensions on the peninsula. This also proves the two nations' influence on Pyongyang, requiring the Yoon government to step up diplomatic efforts toward them.


 
Top 10 Stories
1Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spendingKorea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending
2[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source? INTERVIEWCan art become stable investment source?
3Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform? Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform?
4Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea
5Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days
6Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation
7Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap
8Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month
9Seoul participates in Asia's biggest smart city expo in Taipei Seoul participates in Asia's biggest smart city expo in Taipei
10Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
2[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet' INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'
3Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store' Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'
4From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race
5[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound' INTERVIEWAhn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group