N. Korea developing guerrilla warfare capabilities: U.S. commander

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to be stepping up its
capabilities to stage guerrilla warfare through the development of roadside bombs
and seditious tactics, the top U.S. commander in South Korea said Tuesday.

Gen. Walter Sharp said the bombs -- also known as improvised explosive devices,
or IEDs -- could be used against ordinary citizens as well as U.S. and South
Korean forces stationed in the rear should a full-fledged conflict arise on the
Korean Peninsula.
"I believe we will face IEDs, insurgent forces in addition to large conventional
attacks," Sharp said in a speech to a group of South Korean army personnel.
"We must immediately begin to prepare the Republic of Korea and U.S. forces to
improve our capabilities in these areas," said the four-star general, who
commands 28,500 U.S. troops stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea.
The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.
Sharp said "realistic training" is needed to counter these threats.
"Realistic training ensures that the Republic of Korea is fully prepared for a
thinking enemy, an enemy that will use IEDs, hide among the population and strike
our rear forces and civilians," he said.
"This enemy will require us to use our weapons much more precisely, to reduce
civilian casualties and collateral damage," he said.
Tension has been running high on the divided peninsula since North Korea
conducted its second nuclear test on May 25 and threatened war after scrapping
the truce that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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