U.S. daily: Vessel rescue was warning to North Korea

The U.S.-based Christian Science Monitor says South Korea sought to deliver a warning to North Korea through the successful rescue of a South Korean freighter from Somali pirates.

“South Korea sought to portray its stunning rescue Friday of a cargo ship captured by Somali pirates as proof that it’s ready and willing to take on aggressors from the Arabian Sea to North Korea,” the daily said in its Friday edition.

On President Lee Myung-bak’s nationally televised speech after the rescue, the Monitor said, “Analysts say Lee`s address was a thinly veiled warning to Pyongyang that South Korean forces are prepared to fight.”

Citing comments from Andrew Salmon, a Seoul-based journalist and Korean War historian, the daily said, “This is a very robust response by the South Koreans against a third-rate enemy" adding it "sends a useful message to the North Koreans.”

yhchoi65@donga.com