(2nd LD) N. Korea warns of 'holy war' over S. Korea's contingency plan

(ATTN: RECASTS lead, UPDATES throughout with details of warning, S. Korea's regret,
expert's view of its seriousness)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday declared a "holy war" against
South Korea and said it was suspending all inter-Korean dialogue in an unusually
strong criticism of Seoul's reported action plan to deal with any emergency in
the North.

The warning was issued by the North's National Defense Commission, which is
chaired by leader Kim Jong-il and holds the highest authority in the country. It
is the first time since its establishment in 1998 that the defense commission has
come forward over inter-Korean issues.
"Under the condition that the South Korean authorities' reckless provocation plan
targeting our revolutionary supreme leadership and highly-esteemed socialist
system has been completed and is now implemented into action," a spokesman of the
defense commission said, "our all-out retaliatory holy war will kick off so as to
blow away the bases of the South Korean officials who have spearheaded and backed
the creation of this plan, including the presidential office."
The statement was carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
South Korea expressed deep regret.
"We find it deeply regretful that North Korea took a threatening stance toward us
based on some unconfirmed media reports," Unification Ministry spokesman Chun
Hae-sung said in a statement.
The threat followed reports by some media in Seoul earlier this week that the
South Korean government has recently renewed its action plan to cope with any
contingency in North Korea. According to those unconfirmed reports, the new
action plan, code-named "Recovery," was completed late last year and reflected
recent changes in inter-Korean relations, drawing up possible scenarios that may
led to a regime collapse, such as Kim's sudden death, a military coup or riots of
the population.
Separately, it was previously reported that South Korea has drawn up a joint
action scenario with the United States called Operational Plan (OPLAN) 5029,
which authorizes the entry of South Korean and U.S. troops into the North in case
of those sudden changes.
The North's defense commission said the new action plan aims to "overthrow" the
Pyongyang regime.
The latest warning from Pyongyang is "very serious," said Yang Moo-jin, a
professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. The statement
effectively suspends all peace offers North Korea has recently made in line with
its reconciliatory New Year joint editorial -- dialogue proposals on resuming
Mount Kumgang tour and developing a joint industrial park, and the acceptance of
humanitarian aid, Yang noted.
"The statement by the National Defense Commission carries the very intent of
Chairman Kim Jong-il. It stands above all others," Yang said.
He said Seoul's no-comment approach on the media reports appears to have further
infuriated Pyongyang.
"For us, it's a misunderstanding, but North Korea appears to be understanding the
silence as an acknowledgment."
North Korea also warned that Seoul will be excluded from all peace dialogues,
possibly referring to the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program. The
six-nation forum involves the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
"Unless the South Korean government authorities sincerely apologize for the crime
against our republic," the North's spokesman said, "they should bear in mind that
they will be absolutely excluded from all dialogues and negotiations aimed at
improving inter-Korean relations and ensuring peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula."
Earlier in the day, North Korea sent a faxed message to South Korea saying it
will accept the 100,000 tons of corn aid offered in October. Pyongyang had
delayed giving an answer, apparently disgruntled by the small scale of the aid
and Seoul's demand for transparency in its distribution.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)

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