(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on June 16)

Keeping the navy sharp

Against the backdrop of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and repeated
nuclear threats from the North, South Korean naval forces yesterday held a
ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the first naval battle between the
two Koreas on the Yellow Sea near Yeonpyeong Island.

The Second Fleet at Pyeongtaek Port, which successfully defended Korea against
the North Korean attack, has refreshed its determination to protect the Northern
Limit Line, the country???s maritime border.
???The naval clash in June 1999 was the first inter-Korean military battle since the
Korean War [1950-53], that ended in victory for us,??? Jung Ok-keun, the Navy???s
chief of staff, said at the ceremony. ???We have to remember that a third clash
could happen at any time,??? he added, emphasizing that the South should be ready to
fight and win if such an event should occur. The second confrontation took place in
June 2002. The security alert level here has been increasing following repeated
threats of military and nuclear activity from the North in defiance of tough
sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.
North Korea has refused to respect the NLL and has frequently ventured beyond the
sea border to provoke the South. It fired shots and provoked gun battles in the
disputed waters both in 1999 and again in 2002. Recently, it has stepped up its
naval training to include firing and shore landing operations along the Yellow
Sea coast.
As Navy Chief of Staff Jung warned, we cannot speak lightly about the possibility
of further military provocations from the North. We can deter such provocations
only when we are fully prepared.
The naval forces???anniversary ceremony provides us with an opportunity for
self-examination as well as an alert against the next possible attack from the
North. The South cannot afford to let its guard down, considering the fatal
casualties we suffered in the second clash.
The 2002 confrontation is reported to have generated losses for the South because
its naval forces failed to react with flexibility in the field due to excessive
interference from senior security officials. South Korean naval forces have now
been licensed by senior defense officials to???act accordingly in the field???in
the event of a North Korean attack.
Our forces must display confidence and determination, and we must be equipped
with the ability to defeat the North so that it won???t dare to provoke us. In
such precarious times, we need to applaud and support our soldiers for risking
their lives to keep our land and waters peaceful.
(END)