Psychological War vs. N. Korea Reconsidered

The Defense Ministry is reportedly reconsidering waging a psychological war against North Korea in retaliation for the North`s March 26 sinking of the Cheonan.

“The announcement that we will set up propaganda speakers and spread flyers means the beginning of a psychological war,” ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae told a news briefing Monday. “We need to decide when and if to start it.”

“We cannot start it immediately just to keep our pledge. We also need to consider inter-Korean relations.”

A military source said, however, “Military authorities have no special plan to resume a psychological war. Since the (presidential) statement of the U.N. Security Council stressed peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, if we start a psychological war now, it may look like we started a provocation first.”

In addition, the U.N. Command and North Korea will have a colonel-level meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the Cheonan sinking. A command source said Monday, “Since North Korea accepted our proposal to hold a working-level meeting before general-level talks, we’ve decided to hold a working-level meeting in Panmunjom tomorrow.”

polaris@donga.com