From British daily The Morning Star:
Pro-US government hit in South Korean local polls
Thursday 03 June 2010
South Korea‘s staunchly pro-US administration has suffered a setback in local elections, according to official results.
President Lee Myung-bak’s governing Grand National Party won just six of the 16 key mayoral and gubernatorial posts that were up for grabs on Wednesday.
Its main rival, the centrist Democratic Party, won seven.
The remaining three races were won by two independents and a candidate from the small opposition Liberty Forward Party.
GNP candidates had expected to romp home on a wave of nationalist sentiment in the wake of the sinking of the Cheonan warship, which resulted in the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors.
Mr Lee’s government has formally accused the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of attacking the ship on March 26, a charge that Pyongyang has denied.
Democratic Party leader Chung Se-kyun said that Mr Lee should respond to the results by “abandoning his confrontational policy on North Korea.”
Also from The Morning Star:
Meanwhile, Washington is considering dispatching the massive aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the waters where a South Korean warship sank on March 26, US defence officials said on Wednesday.
The deployment of the nuclear-powered carrier, one of the world’s largest warships, would be seen as a particularly aggressive step by the US because of its sheer size – it is 75-metre high from keel to mast and can accommodate 6,250 crew members.
Minneapolis, MN – Anti-war activists gathered here at May Day Books, June 6, for an anti-war event titled “New War Crisis in Korea?” Here.
The US and South Korea confirmed on Tuesday that they will launch joint military exercises near the Koreas’ tense sea border this weekend despite warnings from Beijing and Pyongyang that the drills would deepen tensions: here.
A US teenager flew to Pyongyang on Thursday to pitch his idea for a “children’s peace forest” in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas: here.
South Korea attacked a North Korean naval vessel, killing 14, on July 31, 1960, the first naval conflict since the signing of the 1953 armistice. One South Korean sailor died in the exchange. The attack came the day after the Liberal party of former South Korean dictator and US puppet Syngman Rhee suffered a stinging electoral defeat: here.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 
AFRO-ASIAN PEOPLES’ SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION AAPSO
PERMANENT SECRETARIAT
Consultative Status- ECOSOC, DPI,UNCTAD, UNIDO,UNESCO.
Observer Status- NAM and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
89, Abdel Aziz Al-Saoud St. Manial El Roda, P.O.B.: 61-11559
El Malek El Saleh, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (202) 23622946 – 23636081 Fax: (202)23637361
E.Mail: aapso@idsc.net.eg / aapso@tedata.net.eg
Website: http://www.aapsorg.org
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Ahmed Hamrouch, president of AAPSO
issued the following statements on behalf of the Permanent Secretariat
AAPSO Supports Korean Unity
It was in 1950, 60 years ago that the Korean War broke out. The War ended in 1953, after fighting bitterly between the U.S. led South Korean Forces and North Korean Forces supported by the Chinese volunteers.
Although the War ended in 1953 with an armistice signed between contended parties, so far it eluded a peace treaty thereby still remaining the last remnant of the Cold War. Despite their aspirations for unity, the two Koreas still remain divided with over 37000 U.S. forces remaining in South Korea. As such it pauses a constant threat to the peace in the region.
During the presidency of Kim Dae Jung of South Korea, efforts were made through his “sunshine policy” to bring about reconciliation between the two Koreas.
The South Korean president’s visit to North Korea brough about several changes. The old wounds were gradually healing, divided families had opportunity to meet each other, tourism was encouraged and an industrial city in Kaesong in the border near North Korea was opened with support from South Korean industrialized. In addition the railway line was linked. This policy had helped both Koreas and a step in the direction of future re-unification.
However with the coming of the new president, situation completely changed. With a sinking of a South Korean ship, war drums were traded between the two Koreas. South Korea blamed the North for the sinking of the ship which North rejected. The U.N. security council passed a resolution condemning the incident without putting any blame on any body.
In addition for the first time, China strongly objected to South Korean U.S. military exercises as it would lead to provocation. According to expert opinion, China’s objection were on two points. One is it will prevent U.N. impartial inquiry into the sinking of the ship. Secondly for the first time George Washington Naval Air Craft carrier is to take part in the exercises which China consider to be a big threat to its own security.
AAPSO considers that six party talk should be resumed and pave the way for ultimately for a peace agreement which will assist for a peaceful reunification of the Peninsula and the tension should not lead to another Korean War. It is the responsibility of the major powers who are involved in the Korean Peninsula to come together to bring the divided country together in the interest of peace in the region.
AAPSO upholds and supports the aspiration of the Korean people for a demilitised, unified peaceful Korea free from nuclear weapons.
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