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North-South Korea Clash at Sea
November 10, 2009 - 12:06 PM | by: Greg PalkotThere was another face-off Tuesday between North and South Korea in the China Sea off the west coast of the peninsula. Ships from both countries exchanging fire in long-disputed territory. The North Korean ship was damaged, set on fire, and returned to port.
With President Obama set to visit South Korea next week, some saw the move as provocation. “There are a lot of “gung-ho elements in the North Korean government willing to take risks,” Kerry Brown, Korea expert for London’s Chatham House, told Fox News.
And yet others think it was a mistake. “It was an unplanned incident,” Andrei Lankov, Seoul-based Korea expert told Fox, “They are in their ‘Be Nice’ period,” he added.
In fact, since nuclear and missile tests earlier this year, Pyongyang has been making overtures to the West and US, starting with the visit by former President Clinton to gain the release of held American journalists.
Fox News’ Major Garrett confirms that the White House has decided to send Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth to North Korea for the first face-to-face talks of this administration.
President Obama is expected to raise the issue of relations with the North and the prospect of re-starting 6-party talks to address Pyongyang’s suspect nuclear program during his Asian tour.
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