(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on March 11)

Buildup of tension

Korean and U.S. forces kicked off their annual joint exercise on Monday around
the country while North Koreans were denouncing the maneuver, calling it a
prelude to an all-out attack on the North. Pyongyang has never failed to make
protestations against joint drills by the two allies, but their reaction is
particularly vehement this time.
In the run-up to the exercise, which in 2009 was codenamed "Key Resolve," the
North threatened retaliation in the coastal waters of the West Sea, along the
250-kilometer Demilitarized Zone and even in the airspace over the East Sea,
using extremely provocative language. Eventually, the North cut off the military
hotline between the South and the North, which was the only existing channel of
communication between the two Koreas.
The North's party and military authorities had intensified verbal attacks on the
South last year as the new government in Seoul stopped providing unconditional
aid to the North, demanding reciprocal steps for denuclearization and other
tension-reducing actions. The North's plan to launch a long-range missile caused
a further escalation of tension, with Washington and Tokyo warning they would
knock the rocket down and Pyongyang threatening immediate retaliation.
Despite earlier predictions, North Korea has yet to erect a Taepodong rocket at
the Musudan-ri launch site. It now looks unlikely that there will be a
test-firing of the rocket during the Key Resolve exercise period of less than two
weeks. As far as the North Korean missile program is concerned, risks are great
on either side. Having experienced a flawed launch of its "Gwangmyongsong"
satellite on the Taepodong-1 rocket in 1998, Pyongyang has to demonstrate
improvement in terms of range and precision, and this time it has to take the
U.S. and Japanese anti-missile systems into account.
Japan, for its part, is determined not to allow a North Korean missile to fly
over its territory again. But it has no proven missile defense system, although
Tokyo has expedited its development in cooperation with the United States. Any
failure in an interception attempt by its highly expensive "Son of Star Wars" SM3
missiles from warships in the East Sea would bring far bigger humiliation than
the nation suffered in 1998. On the other hand, a successful destruction in the
air will seriously antagonize China. Beijing has opposed the U.S.-Japanese
missile defense program in this region because it would negatively affect its own
nuclear deterrent.
Under these circumstances, Pyongyang's indefinite postponement of the rocket
test-firing, which it has claimed is to launch a communications satellite, is
most desirable. With its rocket project, it has stirred up strong international
reactions and attracted the attention of the new Obama administration in
Washington. A special U.S. envoy is seeking to contact the North Korean
leadership to discuss the nuclear question and bilateral relations.
Exercise Key Resolve, as the title appropriately implies, serves to prove the
unwavering strength of the Korea-U.S. alliance in the face of rising North Korean
threats. The display of massive military power, including 14,000 U.S. troops from
outside Korea, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, an Aegis destroyer, a nuclear
sub and other warships and temporary U.S. Air Force reinforcements, should
convince the North Koreans of the futility of their attempt to force concessions
from the United States with its rudimentary nuclear and missile programs. North
Korean leaders are urged to show some good sense hidden behind their hitherto
unreasonable acts and words.
(END)