At 2:34 p.m. on Nov. 24, North Korea attacked Yeonpyeong Island, which borders South Korea.
North Korea launched shells against the island, resulting in four casualties: two soldiers and two residents.
The attack was sudden, but the South Korean military took only a few minutes to return fire. (For more information on the confrontation, read the Nov. 24 article in The Huffington Post, “Korea Attack: Yeonpyeong Island Shelled By North Korea (PHOTOS, VIDEO).”)
After learning of the conflict, many South Korean exchange students on campus worried that it would affect their hometowns, friends and family.
“I freaked out when I heard about assaults of North Korea,” JooYoung Kwon, ’14, said. “I looked over some pictures and articles. I started to worry about my brother who is in army now because two of soldiers are dead. I’m praying for my brother, my families and other people’s safety.”
Although senior Seungkeun Kim spent only nine years of his life in South Korea, he is still very concerned with this incident, he said.
“This happening should not be occurred again just by feeling of anger,” Kim said. “Even though my parents live in different country now, I still wish the war never happens because my friends still live in my hometown.”
To some students, the flare-up came as a surprise.
“I had heard of North Korea dislikes South Korea,” Jason Kim, ’14, said. “However, when I looked up Korean Internet site, I [was] shocked that North Korea attacks South Korea on purpose. I am scared of what the next happening is.”
Some American-born students had reactions similar to those of the exchange students.
“I think that the government of North Korea is something that the world has a hard time cooperating with, since South Korea is their neighbor,” Josh Smith, ’11, said. “The two governments clash.”
The current leader of North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is Kim Jong-il. The president of South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is Lee Myung-bak.
For more coverage of national and international issues, read the Nov. 3 article, Midterm election results, student reactions.
