Noam Chomsky reminded recently in an interview that an attack on North Korea would unleash massive artillery bombardment of the South where 28,500 American troops are stationed.
The U.S.’s military manoeuvres near the North are highly provocative and have exacerbated an already explosive situation. North Koreans have much to fear. We must keep in mind that U.S. aircraft carpet-bombed North Korea in June 1952 and then proceeded to destroy the Sui-ho Dam, releasing a huge quantity of water that destroyed villages and crops. Destroying a dam is a serious war crime for which it was never held accountable.
A solution should involve de-escalation from both sides. North Korea should be forced to freeze its nuclear programme and, as a quid pro quo, the U.S. should halt its joint operations with South Korea and gradually withdraw its troops from the Korean Peninsula and Japan. There is universal revulsion for the North Korean leadership but its basic instinct for survival is understandable. It must be having in mind the fate of Muammar Qadhafi of Libya who paid the ultimate price after he gave up his nuclear programme.
Tejinder Uberoi,
Los Altos, California
