South Korea’s President Lee Myoung-Bak has given support to officially reassuming the title of “main enemy” for their northern neighbors, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) according to reports. This comes after evidence has pointed towards North Korea as the culprit behind the sinking of the Cheosan, a South Korean naval ship.
President Lee, during a meeting with his senior staff, stated that South Korea has focused on exterior forces as opposed to threats closer to home: “Our military failed to clarify the notion of the main enemy for the past decade. We’ve been only focused on potential threats outside the Korean peninsula,” he stated.
This comes amidst other efforts to recognize the potential threats that may be posed by the North, including anti-submarine exercises with the US, a ban on DPRK access to South Korean waters, as well as stopping all bilateral trade between the two nations. The latter will prove to be the most decisive, considering the lack of trade partners for the North.
President Lee has attacked Pyongyang for their violations of UN sanctions as well as disregarding Korean War Armistice Agreement, and has warned that the South will not tolerate further violence.
President Lee also intends to increase the South’s self defence capabilities in case of further attacks by the DPRK and has threatened retaliations. In a nationally televised speech, the President expressed his strength as well as a stern warning to Pyongyang: “North Korea (DPRK) will pay a price corresponding to its provocative acts. I will continue to take stern measures to hold the North accountable.”
The term “main enemy” had been used officially since 1995, but was discarded in 2004 by Lee’s predecessor Roh Moo-Hyn. It was replaced with “direct military threat” amidst reconciliation efforts on both sides.
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