The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Time for South Korea to do More for Its Own Defense

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The Spectacle Blog

Time for South Korea to do More for Its Own Defense

By Doug Bandow on 7.6.09 @ 4:10AM

The North Koreans are busy shooting off missiles again. And the South Koreans are worried.

The ballistic missiles that North Korea test-fired this weekend were likely capable of striking key government and military facilities in South Korea, a defense official said Sunday, amid growing concerns over Pyongyang's firepower.

North Korean state media did not mention the launches but boasted that the country's military could impose "merciless punishment" on those who provoke it.

Guess what? South Korea has upwards of 40 times the North's GDP. Maybe it's time for Seoul to spend a bit more on creating an ability to defend against missiles and to retaliate against any North Korean attack rather than continuing to rely on America to subsidize its defense. The South is a grown-up country now. "Real" countries defend themselves.

View all comments (4) | Leave a comment

Tim| 7.6.09 @ 9:50AM

What a mess. Politics, alliances and war.

Missy| 7.6.09 @ 3:16PM

I agree! I'm sick and tired of these spoiled brat countries who won't manup in their own defense. Get off our back!

Red Phillips| 7.6.09 @ 7:44PM

Hey, where is the interventionist apologists from Heritage shrieking about our need to stay in South Korea indefinitely? A sensible Doug Bandow non-interventionist post doesn't seem complete without it.