North Korea Likely to Attack Again, Says South's Intelligence Chief

Internal pressure caused by the North’s worsening economic situation and an impending change in leadership could provoke Pyongyang to launch another strike.

Won Sei-hoon, director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, told parliamentarians that the North will probably launch another military attack soon. The North Korean military fired artillery shells over the South Korean border on Nov. 26, killing four people. Won said a second strike would serve multiple purposes for Kim Jong-il, who needs to distract his increasingly destitute population and is desperate to gain concessions from the international community. Won’s prediction came as U.S. and South Korean officials confirmed the two countries will go ahead with joint military exercises in the region. China has condemned the exercises and called for negotiations, but the U.S. has said talks cannot go ahead until the North halts its nuclear enrichment program.