South Korea has declared that there is evidence to show that North Korea would launch a medium range missile at any time to flex its muscles despite diplomatic efforts to soften its stand. Seoul has asked China and Russia to intercede with the North to ease tension mounting since the UN Security Council slapped fresh sanctions on North Korea following its nuclear arms test last month. South Korea is however used to arm twisting by North Korea which is now under 30 year old Kim Jong-un. Business in Seoul is as usual. Stocks edged up 0.77 % from a four-and-a-half-month low earlier this week. Trading however is dull. On the other hand, surveillance of North Korea by the South has been stepped up. Missile transporters have been spotted in the southern province of the country along the North Korean border. The various anniversaries to be observed in the North could be pretexts for military displays of strength. Pyongyang remains calm. The focus is more on beautifying the city and the students are busy planting trees.
Reaction in the US has been sharp. Admiral Samuel Locklear, Commander of US forces in the Pacific region said that the US military believed that North Korea had moved an unspecified number of Musuden missiles to the east coast. These missiles can reach targets at a distance of 3,500 KM or more. That will put Japan within range and threaten Guam, home to US bases. South Korea can of course be reached with even short-range Scud missiles. Pakistan’s disgraced scientists A.Q. Khan thinks that North Korea will not explode a nuclear device as it would not dare take the US on in a confrontation. Much depends on the attitude of Russia and China.