War and conflicts continue to grow between North and South Korea despite UN Security Council efforts.
At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the United States and the Soviet Union divided Korea at the 38th parallel (a narrow strip here becoming the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ). Nearly all Koreans were opposed to the separation. Their differences and antagonisms have since grown and deepened. Currently North Korea's absolute leader is the ailing Kim Jong Il, who is also head of the fourth-largest army in the world.
On March 26, 2010, the South Korean warship Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo apparently launched by a North Korean submarine, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard.
South Korea has now sought intervention from the UN Security Council, taking the strongest step ever toward bringing international punishment to the communist North.
"'North Korea must admit its wrongdoing' and 'pledge to never again engage in such a reprehensible action,' [South Korean President] Lee [Myung-bak] said. 'If the enemy continues to taunt us and think that they can do whatever they want they must understand that there is a limit. They 'must understand very clearly that they will have to suffer the consequences'" (Associated Press, June 5, 2010). North Korea, meanwhile, denies responsibility for the attack and warns that any punitive move against the country could lead to another war.
The story of the two Koreas is the story of the world—division caused by confusion. God says that the way of peace is not humanly inherent (Jeremiah 10:23). He promises humanity peace only at the return of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7). Then not only will the two Koreas be united, but so will all peoples on earth (Isaiah 11). (Source: Associated Press.)
