U.S., S. Korea Warn North with Anti-Sub Bombs

(AP)  U.S. and South Korean naval ships fired artillery and dropped anti-submarine bombs off South Korea's east coast Tuesday, the third day of high-profile military maneuvers intended to warn nuclear-armed North Korea against further aggression.

The dramatic show of force comes four months after a South Korean warship sank in the waters off the Koreas' west coast, killing 46 sailors. An international team of investigators determined that a North Korean submarine fired a torpedo that sank the ship in what Seoul called the worst military attack on it since the 1950-53 Korean War.

So far, there was no sign North Korea was preparing the military response it had threatened before the drills - which the communist labeled provocation - began Sunday, military officials said.

Pyongyang Talks War, U.S. Holds Drills Off Korea
North Korea Threatens "Sacred War"

The Korean peninsula technically remains in a state of war because the conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. On Tuesday, both Koreas and the U.S. marked the 57th anniversary of the signing of the armistice against the backdrop of the military drills.

"Since our nation's founding, the United States has relied on our armed forces to ensure our safety and security at home, and to protect lives and liberties around the globe," President Barack Obama said in a statement marking the anniversary. "I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our distinguished Korean War veterans."

In the North's capital, Pyongyang, soldiers and citizens marked the anniversary by laying bouquets at the foot of the Korean War memorial, footage from TV news agency APTN showed.

North Korea, which denies any role in the sinking of the Cheonan, has strongly protested the exercises. In flourishes of rhetoric typical of the regime, the regime has vowed a "nuclear" response in recent days.

"This is an impure attempt to stifle (North Korea) by means of armed force," North Korean army officer Hong Sung Chol told APTN in Pyongyang. "If the U.S. imperialists ignite war again, our army and people will totally uproot the source of the war under the leadership of our brilliant commander, Gen. Kim Jong Il."

The regime has also pressed its demand for a full peace treaty.

"Military tension and the danger of war on the Korean peninsula would not be addressed for good unless the U.S. abandons its hostile policy (against the North) and replaces the armistice with a peace treaty," the government-run Minju Joson newspaper said in commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea wants to establish diplomatic relations with Washington to guarantee that the U.S., which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, won't invade and topple Kim Jong Il's dynastic communist government. Pyongyang cites the presence of U.S. troops on South Korean soil as a key reason for building up its atomic weapons program.

The U.S. repeatedly has said it has no intention of attacking the North, but sought to show with the military drills that its solidarity with South Korea remains as strong as ever.

The exercises, dubbed "Invincible Spirit," involve about 20 ships, 200 aircraft and about 8,000 U.S. and South Korean sailors. Most of the firepower has been flying off the decks of the USS George Washington, a U.S. supercarrier that can carry up to 70 aircraft and more than 5,000 sailors and aviators.

"It's been a success," Cmdr. Paul Hogue, commanding officer of the U.S. destroyer Curtis Wilbur. "It's a show of force, a deterrent."

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and lawmakers boarded the aircraft carrier Tuesday to boost troop morale.

The Cheonan disaster was devastating but has galvanized the South Korean navy, Capt. Kim Seong-joon said aboard the Curtis Wilbur.

"Our navy was sad at first, then angry. I think we need this exercise," he said.

[ibsteve2u]

It is my opinion that "dramatic show of force" loses a whole lot of impact when coupled with "four months after".

Even if the North Koreans have to ROW their submarines (not beyond the realm of possibility...(, they're long gone...the lesson being taught is shoot, and leave - and then entertain yourself by watching S.K. and the U.S. of A. kill fish and octopi from the comfort of your seaside pavilion while guzzling rice beer.

[Another_Devil_Advocate]

Never underestimate your enemy...we should have learned that on our own Vietnam war.

The North Korean regime may seem like an enemy that we can easily defeat but we should remember that they have been preparing for the next war for over 50 years and they are ready.

Here is an interesting article written by Han Ho Suk, Director Center for Korean Affairs back in April, 03 and translated in English. The authenticity of the article is questionable but nevertheless, the overall synopsis is convincing.

http://www.rense.com/general37/nkorr.htm

[Brokennews]

I'm kinda surprised that N. Korea hasn't thrown at least a token rock their way. The threats the N. Korea that levied against the US / S. Korea if they followed through with the excerize certainly sounded like they were serious.
By not following through on the promise to attack the excerize, N. Korea appears even more weak that the world suspects.

Have you ever known a fenced dog that acts & sounds like it would tear you apart as long as you are on the other side of the fence, but once you open the gate it runs under the porch? That's N. Korea!!

[erasmus111]

by Brokennews July 27, 2010 12:31 PM EDT
I'm kinda surprised that N. Korea hasn't thrown at least a token rock their way.


You don't expect North Korea to throw a rock while they are looking, do you? They are the kind that wait until your back is turned. They will wait until it is least expected.

[michaelm07]

Anyone wanna bet our "fearless" and worshipful leader Obama will transition into a big-time hawk in the coming months. There is so much bad news at home and people are so ticked off, before the elections he'll do something; be it Iran, North Korea or some other military adventure as a distraction. Don't fall for it, it is only a diversion. This loser of a president should not be able to any longer fool anyone. Just watch them try to pull rabbits out of hats because they are confident the American electorate is dumb as a stump. I mean after all, they have some evidence of it, look what they voted into office the last time.

It is always the libs who are those who say one thing and do another. I have nothing against war for a good reason and yes, there are good reasons, sometimes. But let's be real, Libs always talk out both sides of their mouths and want it both ways. Woodrow Wilson, said the U.S. would not enter WWI but did so later with gusto. FDR, said we would not involve ouselves in another European war and it wasn't till the ***'s (sorry Japanese people) attacked that we did anything. JFK, the Bay of Pigs (a fiasco) and Vietnam. Johnson then got us in waist deep. Clinton, attacks Serbia without UN approval (yet George Bush got flak for doing the same thing). Bush was no great President but at least he was honest about his intentions. Axis of evil - Iran, North Korea and Iraq - anyone think he was wrong about that? Pre-emtive war? You don;t have to agree with him but at least he was up-front about it. This punk president cannot be trusted. Last week he said he was angry and unaware of the lockerbie release. This week we learned he knew all along. What a P.O.S.

I am a hawk, a conservative and a veteran (Airborne) but I would not want my son or daughter enlisting under this president as Commander and Chief under any circumstance, just to be cannon fodder for this guys subversive agenda and tanking poll numbers.

Please vote them all out in November. In just 98 more days, if they have had more than two terms throw them out - regardless of party affiliation.

[nomorelibs]

I'm no fan of Obama either. But we have to give him credit. He still followed through with his plan to hold the training excersices in the peninsula. Even after NK shot off their mouths and threatened war. Now let's just hope NK was all talk. Otherwise the people of SK are in for serious devastation. They may win the war, but will be costly. 98 days!!!

[nojoy01]

"U.S. and South Korean naval ships fired artillery and dropped anti-submarine bombs off South Korea's east coast Tuesday"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Going from an underground test to a nuclear capable missle system requires time, money, and design effort. Certainly within NK's abilities, but not going to happen "overnight".

B. Going from an underground test to a nuclear capable torpedo is a HUGE step & quite frankly, is probably beyond NK's abilities right now. Besides which, do you really think that the regime in NK is going to give a nuclear weapon to a submarine captain to use?

C. Re: The "Anti-Sub Bombs" in the headline. There are only two types of "bombs" used against submarines. One is an air dropped torpedo. For this exercise a "practice torpedo" that has no warhead & would float to the surface at the end of it's run. Those babies aren't cheap & they'll be recovered if they can. The second is the classic "depth charge" just like in the WWII movies. I doubt seriously if they would be practicing with those. The difference between to two is that the torpedo is a "precision" weapon with internal guidance, propulsion, and dropped on a submarine that is at a know position. The depth charge, if we still have any in the inventory (non-nuclear), is an "area weapon" used when the location of the submarine is generally known but you don't have a precise location or don't have any torpedos at your disposal.

D. The headline says "Anti Sub Bombs" but the picture is of a tube launched torpedo from the weather deck of a dedicated anti-sub warship. Notice that it (the torpedo) is painted bright orange to help in recovering it after the practice shot.

[choiceshaveconsequences]

"This is an impure attempt to stifle (North Korea) by means of armed force."
------
America regrets the impurity. We are sending General Jack D. Ripper to assist you in your hour of stifling.

[scoutsout80]

This is clearly George Bush's fault.

[usaguy2010]

So let me get this straight.. Some of you idiots believe that the US or S. Korea sank that ship.. Is that correct?

[underdogus2007]

We know that North Korea is one of the most miserable places to live. It is particularly bad if you are a Christian because persecution is rampant.
It is a dark place...spiritually and literally.
Check out this night time satellite image of Korea.

http://thetrumpetblows.blogspot.com/2010/07/satan-likes-it-dark.html

[pickaguitar1]

So what happens to the bombs if they don't hit a sub...they just float around endlessly?

[AlwaysSmiling]

I believe (and someone with actual Naval experience can correct this) that they have a range finder. After it hits the range that's set in, the bomb explodes. Regardless of whether it hit anything or not.