North Korean belligerence threatens Olympics

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 31

North Korean belligerence threatens Olympics

NZPA-AP Seoul Deadlock over North Korea’s demands to cohost the 1988 Seoul Olympics has contributed to concern that the Games could provoke armed confrontation — even war. Most analysts agree there is little chance of all-out war, although they say it cannot be ruled out because of the intense hatred between the two Koreas stemming from their devastating civil war in 1950-53. A North Korean military or terrorist act is likely, they assert, if its demands are not met, as seems increasingly probable. South Korea and the United States are bolstering their defences to discourage any possibility of attack against the Games, which start on September 17, 1988. United States Defence officials have agreed to step up stockpiling of munitions to ensure a high level of military readiness, and say they may send more warships and troops to help guard the South during the Games. Some 41,000 American

troops are in South Korea already under a mutual defence pact.

A United States Assistant Secretary of Defence, Richard Armitage, says there is little doubt North Korea is capable of attacking the South. “There is a possibility and a probability North Korea will make an unprovoked armed attack upon South Korea designed to disrupt the Olympic Games,” he said in Seoul recently.

“The South Korean and US Forces are fully poised to combat North Korean troops if they thrust into the South,” Mr Armitage said. “Our commitment to the security of the Olympics is strong.”

The South Korean Gov-ernment-funded Korea Development Institute said in a recent report: "Pyongyang will try to disrupt the Games by any means to justify its unprecedented demand to cohost the Games.” Scars and memories of the war help fuel the bitter animosity that continues to divide the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has been accused of launching at-

tacks against the South, including a 1983 attempt in Rangoon to wipe out the entire South Korea Cabinet that left four Ministers and 16 other people dead; and a bombing at Seoul’s Kimpo Airport in 1986 that killed five people during the Asian Games. “The North Korean threat has been there since the Korean War,” says Seoul’s Olympic Organising Committee leader Park Seh Jik. A United States Military official recently accused North Korea of trying to suggest there was increased tension on the peninsula in advance of the Olympics. A United States Navy Rear-Admiral, William T. Pendly, was responding to a recent North Korean charge that members of the United Nations Command had committed 44,000 military provocations and criminal acts in the previous year. The command represents the 16 nations that fought with South Korea in the Korean War. “The vast majority of the people of the world, who are looking forward

to the Olympic Games in 1988 and wish for peace and stability on the peninsula, will not be deceived,” said Admiral Pendly in a letter to the North Koreans. South Korea sees hosting the Olympics as a big victory over North Korea. Seoul officials say winning the right to host the Games proves their country’s superiority. “The Olympics will mark a critical turning point for Seoul to achieve permanent superiority over Pyongyang,” the Korea Development Institute said. South Korea and the International Olympic Committee are anxious to avoid any move by North Korea to organise a boycott of the Games. The 1.0. C. and South Korea have ruled out the North co-hosting the Games, but have offered Pyongyang several sports if it drops its demand and takes part in the Games. Concern about North Korea’s intentions has been increased by reports that it has told its people the Olympics will be held in their country. Vast stadiums and other ath-

letic facilities are under construction in Pyong yang. The United States has urged North Korea’s allies China and the Soviet Union to restrain Pyong yang. United States officials say Moscow and Peking want to participate in the Games. Analysts are concerned that North. Korea’s leader, Kim II Sung, aged 75, may be tempted to attack the South because of his desire to reunite the peninsula in his lifetime. The North, which has asserted frequently that it will take over the South, may feel the need also to move before the balance of power tilts in favour of Seoul, analysts say. South Korea’s recent enormous economic success is rapidly making Seoul more powerful, although Pyongyang still has numerical military superiority, they say. A successful Olympics not marred by any attacks could, on the other hand, be a positive sign for the peninsula and help create hope the two countries finally may be able to improve their relations.