文档介绍：内部编号：（YUUT-TBBY-MMUT-URRUY-UOOY-DBUYI-0128）
韩国改变军事战略
With Limited Options, South Korea Shifts Military Rules
By and MARK McDONALD
SEOUL, South Korea — Responding to growing public criticism after a deadly North Korean attack, President accepted the resignation of his defense minister on Thursday and announced changes in the military’s rules of engagement to make it easier for to strike back with greater force, especially if civilians are threatened.
The government also announced plans to increase the number of troops and heavy weapons on Yeonpyeong Island, where two marines and two civilians died Tuesday in an artillery fusillade from the North. On Friday, President Lee appointed a security adviser, Lee Hee-won, as the new defense minister.
But Mr. Lee, who came to office two years ago vowing to get tough with the North, has little maneuvering room in formulating a response. While the attack appears to have pushed anti-North Korean sentiment here to its highest level in years, there is little public support for taking military action against the North that might lead to an escalation of hostilities.
“ has nothing to lose, while we have everything to lose,” said Kang Won-taek, a professor of politics at Seoul National University. “Lee Myung-bak has no choice but to soften his tone to keep this country peaceful. It is not an appealing choice, but it is the only realistic choice.”
The South’s powerful neighbor is also counseling restraint. The Chinese prime minister, , said Thursday that Beijing opposed any provocative military behavior by either side on the Korean Peninsula, Xinhua, the state news agency, reported.
On Thursday, while North Korea warned through its official news agency of further military retaliation if provoked by South Korea, Mr. Lee said only, “We should not drop our guard in preparation for the possibility of another provocation by North Korea,” according to his chief spokesman, Hong Sang-pyo. “A provocation like this