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North Korea sends jet fighters to test South's air defense

North Korea has sent jet fighters to test the South's air defenses and threatened to reduce its wealthy neighbor to ashes as it tries to push the new government in Seoul to back off from its hard line with Pyongyang.

South Korea's biggest daily newspaper said yesterday the North's jets had flown sorties close to South Korea's airspace at least 10 times since Lee Myung-bak became president on Feb. 25. Over the weekend the North said it was ready to attack.

"These should be understood as the first actions signalling a freeze in North and South Korean relations," said Yang Moo-jin, a specialist on North Korea at the South's Kyungnam University.

Lee's government has warned Pyongyang that if it wants to keep receiving aid it should improve human rights, abide by an international nuclear deal and start returning the more than 1,000 South Koreans kidnapped or held since the Korean War.

Lee's stand has infuriated the North, used to taking in billions of dollars from Lee's left-of-center predecessors who asked for little in return under their so-called "sunshine policy" of engagement, analysts said.

THE CHINA EFFECT

But analysts said China, one of Pyongyang's biggest benefactors and the closest it can claim to a major ally, would lean on the North to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from spinning out of control.

Beijing, already facing criticism for its handling of the crises in Tibet and Sudan, does not want North Korea to be another headache and spoil its hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games, they said.

"China doesn't want any turmoil," said Kim Sung-han, a Korea University professor and expert in international relations.

China may be willing to step in and make up the difference in the hefty amount of food and monetary aid North Korea loses due to cutting ties with the South in order to keep things quiet for the Games, he said.

Last week North Korea expelled South Korean officials from a joint factory park just north of the heavily armed border once hailed as a model of economic cooperation.

WAR GAMES

It then test-fired missiles into the Yellow Sea, following that up at the weekend with a threat to launch a pre-emptive strike to "not merely plunge everything into flames, but reduce it [the South] to ashes."

It has threatened to attack South Korean naval vessels patrolling in disputed Yellow Sea waters, stop taking apart its nuclear weapons plant as called for under an international deal and suspend reconciliation talks if the South fails to apologize over comments by General Kim Tae-young, the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose office has since said his remarks were misinterpreted.

South Korean military leaders were meeting yesterday to discuss how to respond to the apology demand, a Defense Ministry official said, citing ministry policy in requesting anonymity.

He said a decision was expected today.
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