
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
"Since an international investigation blamed North Korea for sinking a South Korean warship, tensions between the two Koreas are being felt throughout East Asia. The Pentagon announced Monday joint anti-submarine exercises with South Korea. Japan has cited the tensions as a reason for closer military cooperation with the U.S.
South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak gave a stern speech Monday at a war memorial in central Seoul. He said that his country would exercise its right to self-defense if its territory were violated by military force. He also pledged to bring North Korea before the U.N. Security Council and he suspended most trade between the two Koreas.
In Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Lee's actions and agreed with South Korea's conclusion that the North had torpedoed the South Korean warship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors in March.
"The United States fully supports President Lee's responsible handling of the Cheonan incident, and the objective investigation that followed, which we and other international observers joined. The measures that President Lee announced in his speech are both prudent and entirely appropriate," Clinton said."
NPRA joint military exercise? I'm sure this will go over well with the little tyrant.