Strong South Korean Response is the Right One

Nicholas Hamisevicz / May 28, 2010

In his May 24 address to the nation, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak outlined an appropriately firm response to North Korea’s vicious attack on the Cheonan naval ship. President Lee’s policy decisions largely mirrored those recommended earlier by Heritage analyst Bruce Klingner, including a decision that “[t]rade and exchanges between the Republic of Korea and North Korea will be suspended.” The South Korean president also called for a more assertive yet still defensive military posture to deter further North Korean attacks and UN Security Council punishment of North Korea. Lee refrained from a retaliatory strike, tempering the anger of the South Korean people with a realization of the military realities of the peninsula.

As recommended by Klingner, the South Korean and U.S. navies will undertake a joint anti-submarine drill in the West Sea, close to the scene of the sinking and the inter-Korean border. The rough currents and murky waters which made the Cheonan investigation difficult also make finding enemy subs in the area extremely challenging. That said, North Korea’s ability to penetrate South Korean waters and sink the Cheonan will force Seoul to reexamine shortfalls in its naval forces. (more…)