The general mood here doesn't seem too serious. People I've talked to feel that aside from the issue getting used by candidates in the upcoming elections, Not too much is going to happen. People's main concern is that something is done in regards to the Cheonan.
Relations have been in a downward spiral for the last 2 years or so. It started when Ee Myeong Bak was elected promising a reversal of Korea's "Sunshine policy" of diplomatic engagement and aid to the North. Not long after, an SK tourist in North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort was shot during a morning walk. The South halted all travel to the resort until NK held a joint investigation in to the matter and promised safety to all SK tourists. The North refused the joint investigation and threatened to seize resort assets if SK didn't open the resort back up to travel (NK just did seize the SK owned hotels after the Cheonan accusation).
The North also arrested an SK worker at the joint industrial complex on NK land. They accused him of attempting to lure an NK woman to the South. The man was released when his boss met with NK diplomats, but a seperate row over the wages at the industrial zone and general tensions led to that being shut down too (I think it's closed now, though I could be wrong).
The resort and industrial zone brought in a lot of funding to the North. The loss of those, plus these new sanctions will be brutal to the country. NK might actually have to make amends if it wants to avert another massive famine, hundreds of thousands dead and a possible uprising.
I'm a mod, come to me if there's mod'n to do.
Chrizum is the best thing to happen to the internet, Period.
Serves me right for challenging his sales predictions!
Bet with dsisister44: Red Steel 2 will sell 1 million within it's first 365 days of sales.
