How to arrest the rising tension in the region of the Rising Sun

South Korean marines patrolling the disputed island

North Korea has threatened to take stern military action in ‘self defense’ against South Korea if the later carries out live firing exercise in the disputed island of Yeonpyeong.

Japan has announced major changes in her defense forces in view of the growing military might of China. China rebuts the comments of Japan.

The US envoy Bill Richardson who is visiting North Korea in a private capacity has termed the situation in Korean Peninsula like a ‘tinderbox’.

The tension is rising in the region and the parties concerned are failing to exercise restraint. The political acumen is receding in the face of egoistic policies of the power players. On the first hand the comments of Japan regarding increasing military power are rather misplaced and superfluous. China is an emerging world power which is now the 2^nd large economy. It is soon going to assume the status of a super power and if the US does not change her policies in a revolutionary manner, it is expected that China may even over take the US with in few decades. In that scenario if the military might of China is increasing, no other country should be flabbergasted. China is a peace loving country with an excellent track record of non interference in global conflicts, save for the self defense only. Both China and Japan cannot afford to fight a war that will bring unprecedented devastation and severely retard the pace of economic development in both the Asian economic giants.

Meanwhile the North Korean government has prepared to allow the UN nuclear inspectors back in to the country. They have offered to sell about 12000 nuclear fuel rods to other countries including South Korea. These rods have the capacity to produce weapon-grade plutonium.

South Korea has started her live firing drills in the disputed island of Yeonpyeong. The civilian residents of the island have been instructed to go the air raid shelters.

The UN Security Council had an 8 hours long session to decide about the line of action to be taken in the even of an attack by North Korea but were still indecisive. The permanent members the Security Council are divided; Russia and China suggesting South Korea to stop the military exercises while the US favoring the exercises as a right to prepare for the self defense.

The issue seems to be more of an egoistic nature rather than of a strategic one. The postponement of exercises by South Korea will not do any harm to the country but would certainly help to maintain peace in the volatile region. All the efforts particularly of the US should be directed towards this aim.