Does South Korea Have the Nerve to Defend Itself From North Korean Aggression? Lack of a Response Leads Defense Minister to Resign Under Heavy Pressure

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak accepted his Defense Secretary’s resignation after he came under heavy fire from politicians inside South Korea, who felt that South Korea hasn’t done enough to respond to North Korean aggression in the last year.

The first act by North Korea was the destruction of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan eight months ago by a North Korean submarine, which resulted in the loss of 46 lives, followed by the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island by North Korean military forces two days ago.  In both cases, the South Korean military was restrained from launching retaliatory strikes against North Korean targets.

There have been other sea battles between North and South Korean warships in the Yellow Sea over the years, but the last two engagements have been really nasty, with a heavy loss of life in the sinking of the Cheonan, and heavy damage to Yeonpyeong Island.

The current South Korean government took a hard line against North Korea, but so far they haven’t lived up to their promises.   Now the South Korean government is rushing troops to other South Korean islands that might be North Korea’s next target.  The South Korean press and public are commenting that the move is too little, too late.

When North Korea strikes again, will South Korea sit back and let it happen again?  Or will they make North Korea pay for what they’ve done?