In a move meant to send a clear message to North Korea, the US and South Korea are planning a joint anti-sub sea exercise beginning the day before a rare political meeting of the North Korea’s Worker’s Party; the only political party in the North.
North Korea has responded with condemnation, stating that the joint war games may “drive the situation to an unpredictable grave phase.” The US and South Korea have made no bones about the fact that the war games are intended to send a message to the North, which they hope will be build upon the series of military exercises already conducted in the last six months.
The pressure on the North has been mounting since the blame for the sinking of the South Korean vessel the Cheonan was levied at Pyongyang, who have denied responsibility.
This series of exercises has also raised hackles in China, as it takes place in the Yellow Sea. Previous joint sea exercises were moved from the Yellow Sea after China objected to the games so close to its territory, but this time they are going ahead as planned.
The move comes at a delicate time for the North, as the first meeting of the single political party in the country since 1966 is slated for later in the week. Kim Jong Il’s son, Kim Jong Un, is expected to be named to committee post, where he is in line to succeed his father.
The war games by the US and South Korea are likely to inflame tensions between the two Koreas once again.
