North Korea postpones talks with the South North Korean Actions Increase Tensions on Peninsula

North Korea postpones talks with the South The two sides were to begin a new round of talks in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang late last week The two sides were to begin a new round of talks in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang late last week The discussions dealt with aspects of economic cooperation, mainly commercial shipping The discussions dealt with aspects of economic cooperation, mainly commercial shipping

North Korea has suspended next week’s talks on economic and maritime cooperation with the South North blaming the end of talks on Seoul’s heightened military alert status North blaming the end of talks on Seoul’s heightened military alert status Also because of the South’s contribution of military engineers and medics to the U.S. led war on Iraq Also because of the South’s contribution of military engineers and medics to the U.S. led war on Iraq

Causes for South’s Heightened Military Alert South moved to “defense readiness condition 2” because of fear of possible terrorist incidents in relation to the tense situations with the North South moved to “defense readiness condition 2” because of fear of possible terrorist incidents in relation to the tense situations with the North Second, because of the possibility of terrorist acts in the South in protest to the start of the U.S. led war on Iraq Second, because of the possibility of terrorist acts in the South in protest to the start of the U.S. led war on Iraq

Causes for the Heightened Military Alert Third, military alert heightened also because of the start of the South’s annual large-scale joint military exercises with the U.S., called “Foal Eagle” Third, military alert heightened also because of the start of the South’s annual large-scale joint military exercises with the U.S., called “Foal Eagle”

North Korea blames the South for the postponement North Korea calls these military exercises between the South and the U.S. rehearsals for an invasion on the peninsula North Korea calls these military exercises between the South and the U.S. rehearsals for an invasion on the peninsula “South Korea will have to take full responsibility for this” (the heightened alert)-chairmen of the inter-Korean economic cooperation committee for the North “South Korea will have to take full responsibility for this” (the heightened alert)-chairmen of the inter-Korean economic cooperation committee for the North

North Korea blames the South for the postponement Chairmen in the North also said, “The U.S. international pressure on the DPRK to scrap its nuclear program has failed…it (U.S.) is now going to settle it by military means.” Chairmen in the North also said, “The U.S. international pressure on the DPRK to scrap its nuclear program has failed…it (U.S.) is now going to settle it by military means.”

Conclusion and Fears North Korea’s postponement of the talks raises concern that it might suspend more important inter-Korean talks scheduled next month to ease tensions over nuclear issues North Korea’s postponement of the talks raises concern that it might suspend more important inter-Korean talks scheduled next month to ease tensions over nuclear issues Also the South and the U.S. fear the North is using the Foal Eagle and the war with Iraq as excuses not to cooperate peacefully and increase their nuclear program Also the South and the U.S. fear the North is using the Foal Eagle and the war with Iraq as excuses not to cooperate peacefully and increase their nuclear program

Sources South Korea’s Yonhap news agency South Korea’s Yonhap news agency Korean Central News Agency Korean Central News Agency BBC News/Asia Pacific BBC News/Asia Pacific CNN/Asia CNN/Asia Korea Herald Korea Herald