Korean Peninsula: Heats rise after artillery exchange.

(Baonghean) - Following the artillery exchange between North Korea and South Korea in the disputed maritime border area, this incident has ignited tensions on the Korean Peninsula for weeks, leading to a series of verbal clashes and military exercises. Given the current situation, the international community is deeply concerned about a potential negative outcome for the nuclear disarmament process on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's K-9 self-propelled artillery retaliated against North Korea on March 31. (Source: Yonhap News Agency)

Today, North Korea conducted live-fire exercises at several locations off its western coast. South Korea claims that of the more than 500 artillery shells fired by North Korea, approximately 100 landed in disputed waters, prompting immediate retaliation. As a result, an artillery exchange took place in the maritime border area between the two countries. Although there were no indications of specific targets being aimed, this military action suggests that tensions have escalated as the two sides engage in a direct confrontation.

This is actually not difficult to explain, given the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula for months. In late February, South Korea and the United States began joint military exercises despite strong protests from North Korea. For its part, North Korea retaliated with a series of missile tests, and today's live-fire exercise. Many believe that this action by North Korea is also aimed at demonstrating a tough stance in the face of international pressure. The UN Security Council condemned the medium-range missile launch last weekend, following a series of rocket and short-range missile launches by North Korea in recent weeks. North Korea is still subject to UN Security Council sanctions following its long-range missile tests in late 2012 and its third nuclear test in early 2013.

In fact, the maritime border between North and South Korea has been the scene of fierce naval clashes in 1999, 2002, and 2009. In November 2010, an artillery exchange off Dong Pyeong Island in South Korea resulted in the deaths of four South Koreans. While the endless disputes and clashes between South and North Korea are no longer surprising, concerns remain that these actions could jeopardize efforts to mend relations between the two Koreas. Recently, there was still hope that gestures of goodwill from both sides could ease the tense atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula, as the two countries successfully organized reunions for families separated by the war – a program that had been interrupted for three years.

Previously, the two sides also resumed operations at the Kaesong joint industrial complex and reached agreements that benefited both sides. Furthermore, South Korean President Park Geun-hye recently announced several proposals calling for increased exchanges with North Korea as a first step towards building trust and laying the foundation for inter-Korean reunification. These included urging South Korea to increase humanitarian aid projects to North Korea before expanding economic cooperation to larger projects such as infrastructure development or mineral exploitation. However, the recent artillery exchange will undoubtedly hinder these future plans between Seoul and Pyongyang.

Furthermore, the chances of all parties sitting down at the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue are becoming increasingly slim, as tensions between the two Koreas are unlikely to be eased quickly or easily. This round of talks was held in China in 2003, with the participation of the host country, Russia, the United States, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea. However, during the negotiations, North Korea announced its withdrawal in April 2009, one month before conducting its second nuclear weapons test. Since then, the parties have made strenuous efforts to restart these stalled talks, but without success, as the parties continue to engage in actions considered "aggressive."

At this time, public opinion cannot predict where the artillery exchange will lead the situation on the Korean Peninsula and how the retaliatory actions will continue. However, there is reason to worry that a more conciliatory atmosphere is unlikely to return in the short term. North Korea recently declared that it "will not rule out" the possibility of another nuclear test, following its launch of a medium-range missile that was condemned by the international community. The Chosun Ilbo recently reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mentioned the possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula in 2015.

The lack of compromise between the parties is trapping the Korean Peninsula in a vicious cycle of "aggression, retaliation, and sanctions." War is clearly something the whole world does not want. And in the current context, all parties need to carefully control their actions to prevent any breakdowns from occurring.

Thu Ha