Citizens support naval drills

Many express concern over another provocation from North

By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea and the United States started a large-scale naval drill in the West Sea Sunday morning despite strong protests from North Korea and China, but a majority of citizens seem to be agreeing with the need for the drill.

An online movie portal site Maxmovie conducted a poll of some 6,700 people Thursday and 82 percent of the participants agreed with the exercise highlighted by the presence of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Lee Young-yoon, 48, a small business owner in Seoul, said South Korea and the U.S. should proceed as planned.

“We have been attacked by North Korea but did nothing. I think we need the drill to prove that we are ready to fight back if the North strikes with another military provocation,” Lee said.

He said the South should have bombarded the North’s military base in the West Sea that is responsible for the latest attack. “As we are showing restraint, the North is looking down on us. We should sternly react to the North. I think that’s the way to tame it.”

Bang Gi-bum, a 30-year-old self-employed man, said the government should conduct the drill as South Korea cannot back out in this situation. “It should be done as planned. We should not flinch,” he said.

But he also expressed concerns about additional provocation from the North since they also said they would not stand still if the exercise went ahead.

Park Bi-ho, 31, an office worker, also said that the drill was needed as a preemptive measure against any additional provocation from the North. “We need the drill. It’s necessary to show that the U.S. stands behind us. It will also serve as a warning against additional possible provocation from the North,” he said.

Shelton Bumgarner, a freelance writer, said, “The drill should happen because some sort of show of force needs to be taken to prevent North Korea from continuing to threaten the ROK indiscriminately. The drill is one way of showing that the alliance between the U.S. and the ROK is strong and that the U.S. will back up the ROK should the North strike again.”

Internet and Twitter were also hotbeds for sharing opinions. Those who sided with the military maneuvers in the West Sea said they were routine.

“We must continue the naval exercise with the U.S. Cancelling it in these circumstances is admitting that this was due to North Korea’s attack,” a netizen nicknamed Greenciel said.

However, some tweeters opposed the drill. A Tweeter, named DJAKI said, “I don’t understand why we should continue to hold this kind of joint drill which only provokes the North. I’m concerned that we Koreans will die as victims of a power struggle between the United States and China.”

Some liberal civic organizations and citizens held a rally, demanding the government stop the joint exercises with the U.S. which they said will further provoke the North.

Some 10 progressive civic groups, including the Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, held a press conference Saturday in front of Yongsan Garrison. They claimed that the military drill would incur more damage from clashes between the two Koreas.

“The government is maintaining a firm attitude in a situation in which military conflict has been forewarned,” an official of the organization said. “Stepping up the level of naval drills in the West Sea might drive the situation to become more dangerous. The government should stop such breakneck military action.”