Tensions between South and North Korea escalated sharply this week after Seoul officially accused Pyongyang of torpedoing the Cheonan, the South Korean warship that sank in March, killing 46 sailors. After presenting convincing evidence of North Korea’s culpability, including torpedo propeller parts found at the disaster scene, the South cut off most trade with the North and appealed to the U.N. Security Council for new sanctions. In response, the North cut all communications with the South and said any new sanctions would be met with “strong measures, including a full-scale war.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. would back South Korea as it brings its case to the U.N. Security Council. “This was an unacceptable provocation by North Korea,” she said, “and the international community has a responsibility and a duty to respond.” Many analysts believe that the ailing Kim Jong Il authorized the torpedoing to show that he’s still in command and to bolster his chances of installing his son as his successor.
“What do you do when shooting back is unthinkable and diplomacy is ineffective?” asked the Los Angeles Times in an editorial. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has acted with restraint, refusing to respond militarily to “an act of war.” Yet calling for U.N. sanctions against North Korea is fruitless: China will block them because it fears that destabilizing the Pyongyang regime will cause an exodus of refugees across its border.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There’s plenty the U.S. can do without the U.N., said National Review. Refreeze North Korean assets, for a start. “Tightening our grip on Pyongyang’s finances would bolster U.S. leverage at a critical moment in Korean history,” perhaps speeding the demise of its dangerous leader. Let’s not mince words: “The Cheonan incident was nothing short of a terroristic massacre.”
But as long as Kim remains in power, we have to deal with him, said The Boston Globe. And while economic punishment is necessary, it’s not sufficient. America’s ultimate goal is “to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons.” And the only way to do that is to negotiate—even with a dictator who has blood on his hands.
-
Sloth fever shows no signs of slowing downThe explainer The vector-borne illness is expanding its range
-
'With every technological advance, there are risks'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
5 of the best platonic TV friendshipsthe week recommends Maintaining boundaries has proven tricky for all but the most committed of buddies on the small screen
-
The final fate of Flight 370feature Malaysian officials announced that radar data had proven that the missing Flight 370 “ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”
-
The airplane that vanished
feature The mystery deepened surrounding the Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared one hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.
-
A drug kingpin’s capture
feature The world’s most wanted drug lord, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was captured by Mexican marines in the resort town of Mazatlán.
-
A mixed verdict in Florida
feature The trial of Michael Dunn, a white Floridian who fatally shot an unarmed black teen, came to a contentious end.
-
New Christie allegation
feature Did a top aide to the New Jersey governor tie Hurricane Sandy relief funds to the approval of a development proposal in the city of Hoboken?
-
A deal is struck with Iran
feature The U.S. and five world powers finalized a temporary agreement to halt Iran’s nuclear program.
-
End-of-year quiz
feature Here are 40 questions to test your knowledge of the year’s events.
-
Note to readers
feature Welcome to a special year-end issue of The Week.