SEVEN N. KOREAN SOLDIERS ENTER DMZ, FIRE SHOTS.Byline: Nicholas D. Kristof Nicholas Donabet Kristof (born April 27 1959 in Yamhill, Oregon) is an American political scientist, author, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist specializing in East Asia. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times Seven North Korean soldiers entered the tense demilitarized zone between the two Koreas on Friday and fired shots in the air before retreating when South Korean troops fired warning shots, the Seoul government said. The North Korean soldiers crossed the demarcation line in the middle of the demilitarized zone, meaning that they technically intruded into South Korea by 20 or 30 yards, according to statements by the South. The incident, if it is as South Korea describes, would be an open challenge to the U.S. and South Korean forces in the area. It would also be a severe breach of the armistice Armistice (Nov. 11, 1918) Agreement between Germany and the Allies ending World War I. Allied representatives met with a German delegation in a railway carriage at Rethondes, France, to discuss terms. The agreement was signed on Nov. that keeps the peace on the Korean Peninsula. Still, the number of troops involved was so small that North Korea was presumably pre·sum·a·ble adj. That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster. trying to make a point more than pick a fight. The border is heavily fortified fortified (fôrt  ´fīd),adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. and the seven North Korean soldiers did not pose a major threat. Friday's incident, which lasted several hours, was similar to a series of incursions by North Korean troops into the demilitarized zone on three nights in early April. Those incidents involved many more troops and more serious weaponry, but the North Korean soldiers did not fire or cross into South Korea. The most common interpretation of North Korea's behavior has been that the Communist authorities are engaging in a bit of brinkmanship brink·man·ship also brinks·man·ship n. The practice, especially in international politics, of seeking advantage by creating the impression that one is willing and able to push a highly dangerous situation to the limit rather than concede. , trying to underscore the danger of the situation on the border. North Korea has been trying to discredit the armistice, which has kept the peace since the end of the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. in 1953, by showing that the armistice is ineffective. The idea is that the United States might then want to replace the armistice with a real peace treaty negotiated with North Korea. While North Korea has repeatedly called for peace talks with Washington alone, the United States is willing to consider discussions only if South Korea is allowed to play a central part. ``We think the latest incursion in·cur·sion n. 1. An aggressive entrance into foreign territory; a raid or invasion. 2. The act of entering another's territory or domain. 3. is part of the North's longstanding scheme to prove that the 1953 Korean armistice does not work,'' the Associated Press quoted an unnamed defense ministry official as saying. Certainly Friday's incursion, as described by South Korea, violated the armistice. Soldiers are not allowed to cross the demarcation line, are not allowed heavy weapons and are not allowed to fire their guns. There have been some signs that North Korea is considering accepting a U.S. proposal for four-way peace talks. |
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