To voice its displeasure about joint South Korean-U.S. military exercises, North Korea is threatening to shoot down civilian airplanes that venture near its airspace — even if they don’t actually enter it. Russia, China, South Korea and Japan may have something to say about that.
From the BBC:
In the latest of a series of bellicose statements, a North Korean committee warned that “security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean civil airplanes… in particular while the military exercises are under way”.
It said no one knows what “military conflicts will be touched off by the reckless war exercises”.
I gotta say, testing nukes is one thing, and countries can at least make mostly rational arguments about the defensive value of a nuclear deterrent. But threatening to blow hundreds of civilians out of the sky — and in the process ensure a war with at least a couple of countries — is a whole different kettle of fish, and I can’t imagine that even Kim Jong-Il, Korea’s “dear leader,” would be crazy enough to do this. For what it’s worth, my guess is that he’s just testing the waters to see if the new American president will send as many concessions his way as the last one did.
But just in case, if you’re planning a trip around the Sea of Japan, you may want to check your flight route.
On a slightly related note, last May I posted a link to Kim Jong-Il’s official online biography, which offers a rare glimpse of the man’s often-overlooked sensitive side.
From his childhood, Comrade Kim Jong Il was extraordinarily clever and wise.
From his early years, Comrade Kim Jong Il possessed the power of keen observation, the power of clear analysis and extraordinary perspicacity with regard to things and phenomena. He had a faculty for creative thinking, regarding every problem with an innovative eye.
Courageous and ambitious, Comrade Kim Jong-Il did everything in a big way; he had a strong and daring character which enabled him to carry any difficult task to completion with his own efforts, once he had started it.
Possessed of warm human love and broadmindedness, he was always generous, unceremonious and warm-hearted among people.
Also, Kim Jong-Il’s dad can beat up your dad.
In spite of its potential consequences for the thousands of people who fly over the Sea of Japan each day, the story wasn’t one of CNN’s top stories this afternoon. They did, after all, have to make room for a report called “Britney’s Body is Back, but How’s the Show?” Apparently, it’s not good.
Image via Pensito Review.
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