[imText1]The joint civilian-military investigation team looking into the sinking of the Cheonan made their formal announcement today, accusing North Korea of torpedoing the vessel. Most of the people gathered around the large television screens at Seoul Station to watch the investigation team’s official press conference were disgusted by the North Korean actions, but all knew the consequences of rash military retaliation and all favored a diplomatic reply.
“The post-War generation will probably not understand”, said Kim Eun Hee, a resident of the Guro-dong in southwest Seoul, referring to the anger she felt about the issue. “As a member of the generation that lived through the Korean War, I am absolutely disgusted at the North’s inhumane conduct.”
“They (North Korea) invaded us during the Korean War, but placed the blame on us,” she recalled. “The current situation looks no different.”
Park Je Won from Sangye-dong in the northeast of the city said, “I think it’s time to put a halt on giving North Korea all it wants. ‘Containment’ through economic sanctions must take precedence over the idea of a ‘Sunshine Policy’.”
Kim Han Dong, a resident of Daegu, was one of those concerned by the potential sequence of events going forward. “Despite these revelations,” he said, “’an eye-for-an-eye’ military confrontation must be avoided. A diplomatic approach to extract an apology from the North and obtain a verifiable promise that such an incident will not happen again would be enough,” he said.
Im Kwang Bon, an elderly citizen of Gyeonggi Province also voiced concerns over military retaliation. “Although I’m furious, I do not want war. The memories that I have of the war when I was young are horrifying enough,” he said.
Kim Ha Rim of Incheon, said, “Personally, I don’t think the incident was pre-planned by the North. It seems like they are scurrying for cover after a blunder. At a time when the world has turned its back on the North, I don’t think it’s necessary for us to pressure them even further.”
