South Korean ship sunk

A South Korean ship has sunk in the seas off North Korea, possibly as a result of a torpedo attack, according to media reports.

Some reports indicate naval ships were involved in combat in the vicinity immediately before the ship was sunk. Other reports say the ship was torpedoed. And some indicate the ship was sunk as a result of a tern explosion.

Commenting on the event, political risk consultant Stratfor said: “Tensions between the two Koreas have always been at least moderately high, but previous governments in the South have tended to seek a rapprochement. That warming has cooled significantly in recent months; one result has been occasional naval skirmishes.”

Stratfor has little doubt that the South could ultimately prevail in a military conflict. But it would come at a massive cost. North Korean artillery could decimate Seoul.