Defense Analysis

Yeonpyeong Conflict and Its Impact on Security Stability of Korean Peninsula

By David Raja Marpaung

      The two Korean conflict, namely North Korea and South Korea because of a claim of ownership that occurred on Yeonpyeong island territories occurred around the end of last year (end of 2010). But this conflict is not only triggered by territorial claims issues, further conflict also triggered because of the joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. in the Yellow Sea.

Yeonpyeong issue is a matter of history the Cold War legacy. When the Korean War end with the signing of   Korean Armistice Agreement, August, 1953. The problem is, that the boundary line by the U.S. and South Korea it is called de ¬ with the name of the Northern Limit Line (Northern Limit Line) is very close to land with area separating North and island in the waters with the island of North Korea. North Korea since the Korean War offer line in the West Sea border is more neutral, snaking diagonally across the snaking up the lines 38 and 37 North latitude . However, the request does not get a serious response from the South Korean side.

The territorial issues more sharply when South Korea held military exercises with the U.S. coalition in the region nearest the Yellow Sea. This problem gets worse when North Korea launched a missile attack that bombarded the island of Yeonpyeong in late 2010. Given these events, security and stability of East Asia re-experience shock and lead to open conflict between the two Koreas. Of course the two Korean conflict will affect the strategic environment of the countries in East Asia such as China, Japan, and to a certain degree that is Taiwan.

Two Korean crisis and the action of the international community and the U.S.

Of the events above, of course the interesting question is, why there is no significant action against Yeonpyeong incident? Although a variety of responses in the form of criticism has attended various international community comment color in various international media. At least there are two actions that are common in the international community when there is a country that violates international norms. First, the economic embargo and military. 

This is of course already implemented under President Bush, that North Korea felt a significant impact on the economy. North Korea's economy collapsed, making this country have no choice, other than nuclear and missile tests. North Korea exports only U.S. 1.5 billion. This number is very far compared to South Korea's exports reached U.S. $ 326 billion per year. Here is the sum of exports and imports of North Korea. In addition to the decline of the North Korean economy, the issue of Yeonpyeong become rigid because South Korea is not interested in negotiating. This is because the leaders of both countries of North Korea Kim Jong Il and South Korean Lee Myung Bak did not want to open up a dialogue.