Daily Lessons from Life 23 November 2010 - North Korea shells South in fiercest attack in decades

"North Korea shells South in fiercest attack in decades - Tue, Nov 23, 2010 Reuters

SEOUL - North Korea on Tuesday fired dozens of artillery shells at a South Korean island, killing two soldiers and setting dozens of houses ablaze, in one of the heaviest attacks on its neighbour since the Korean War ended in 1953.

The attack comes as the reclusive state has been pressing regional powers to return to negotiations about its nuclear weapons program and follows revelations at the weekend it is fast developing another source of material to make atomic bombs.

It also follows moves by iron leader Kim Jong-il to make his youngest son heir apparent to the family dynasty.

A Beijing University said: 'This is the oldest trick. Create a big BANG and force others to negotiate with them as their role in the world's pursuit of peace is always 'you need be to an irritation every now and then.""

They have done it again. Just a few months after allegedly torpedoed a South Korean naval vessel killing 46 sailors, young and with a glorious life ahead of them cut short!!

What did the world do when they misbehaved, in a BIG way? Close to nothing. At least nothing of consequence to a regime who is so used to metering out pains and miseries to its people - some still blindly loyal while some blissfully unaware of the actual going on and with some in the known who probably feared for the worst. Self-destruction!!

Lessons for me are:

1. it will NOT be resolved as long as one side is still holding out hope to negotiate. It will NOT be resolved if one side continued to believe that it can get away with murders!! One never know the bullied will lose control of the delicate balance or not! This is worrying. Yet, perhaps, inevitable that something go to give - intentionally or accidentally!;

2. who will blink 1st when one is calling the other bluff? Will the worst scenario play out if the North Korean really have nuclear arms and decided to test one out with its neighbour south of the border? Is this the moment, the crazy, mad and irrational decision everyone dreaded become a reality? Will the bully stop bullying when the bullied fight back hard and decisively? Will the North Koreans wake up with the war and reject the regime or will they fight even harder to get rid of the decadent South? If only I know the answer!!;

3. the allies that supported the bullies. What will be their strategic consideration? To have a permanent torn in the side of the 'good guys' and keep them honest, or to crack the knuckles of the former bullies and get them to respect the rules of the games strictly. No unprovoked attacks. No bravado of implying: 'All of you can go to hell and I don't give a damn!!' The Chinese and the Russian know that they have the handle, hopefully it is true, of their allies, North Korea. Where do we go from here? Hopefully, peaceful resolution can be obtained going forward. I hate to be in the position of the South Korea President. Do you push and punch back or do you just swallow the nation's pride and do all you can to prevent a full scale conflict, again!!

We are on thin ice. Let's wait with a bated breath. And a little prayer - for those who are religious!!