North Korea could attack South again

By Na Jeong-ju

North Korea could attack South Korea again or attempt another nuclear and missile test in a desperate bid to extract concessions from the South and the rest of the world, security sources said Thursday.

“The North could adopt brinkmanship tactics again, instead of pushing for dialogue, to get what it needs,” a Cheong Wa Dae source said on condition of anonymity.

“It could take a nuclear test, launch missiles or attack our military and citizens. We should consider all possibilities and be fully prepared for potential provocations by the North.”

The response came one day after the two rounds of inter-Korean preliminary military talks ended without any agreement. Both sides even failed to set a date for future talks.

Earlier on Thursday, the North Korean military, in a bulletin carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, alleged that the South refused to talk and was reluctant to improve inter-Korean relations.

The security source said Pyongyang should realize that it must first apologize for the two deadly attacks last year and take “responsible measures” to prevent the recurrence of such incidents to move the inter-Korean talks forward.

“Our position remains rock-solid. The preconditions will not change,” the official told The Korea Times, stressing that Seoul will take stern military action against any North Korean provocation.

The North has consistently denied any involvement in the torpedo attack of the Cheonan warship in March and claimed that its artillery attack on the border island of Yeonpyeong in November was provoked by the South.

Observers say inter-Korean tension is likely to escalate further as North Korea could resort to extreme measures again to intimidate the world.

It could conduct a third nuclear test.

There has been speculation that the Stalinist state could be preparing a test to bolster its military might as it moves to transfer power from leader Kim Jong-il to his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.

In recent weeks, Seoul and Washington have strengthened monitoring of the site where the two previous tests were conducted in 2006 and 2009. Some U.S. satellite images showing indications of a possible test have been released.

Missile test-firing is also a means the North has often used to attract attention.

Intelligence sources have warned that North Korea could launch a long-range missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. The belligerent country has been accused of selling missiles and other weapons of mass destruction.

Pyongyang is already under tight United Nations sanctions for past nuclear and missile tests.