jorge,
The North is a disaster but the South is a US lackey and they would have only been carrying out the US instructions.
Of course the US is such a peace loving, caring nation that they would not consider stirring up a bit of a storm to divert attention away from their precarious financial predicament.
That’s why they have hundreds of military bases all over the world, to keep the peace of course, not to control other countries.

sarnian,
It may be that the US orchestrated all of this, we can wait for WikiLeaks or until documents are declassified or leaked. But to step out of conspiracy world for a second, there is also the issue of North Korea's leadership succession. It is fairly plausible that the internal machinations of the North Korean army and/or Kim Jong-il's annointed son are responsible for this attack.

And while you worry about the US and its countless bases all around the world (which I have to agree is a fair issue to worry about), do you worry about growing Chinese influence in Asia and Africa? China is not known for its free and open society, yet it has its sights on Africa: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jWSJHcF7aZsE17_jF6psdccw0r0Q?docId=CNG.53075ad2350ca0616102f4e994a06283.41

http://currentglobalperceptions.blogspot.com/

Iraq and Afghanistan are draining the American economy. China knows it.
Ask yourselves why North Korea who knows it cant match the American nuclear armaments and hasnt got the sophistication of the South's weapons and better army would want to jeopardise its future in provoking armed conflict as it did in the Korean War (1) when it gained nothing.
It makes no sense unless one looks at the larger picture.
After North Korea the Americans are sure to turn its attention to Somalia.
The greatest threat to the world is the Islamists controlling the nuclear weapons in pakistan which is the underlying aims.
The fall of Saudi Arabia is another nightmare ready to unfold.
socratease

Sarnian,

The US has bases all over the world ? Sure, it has plenty, but none in Africa south of the Sahara (correct me if I'm wrong), and none in South America south of Colombia, except perhaps a huge air field in Paraguay (perhaps not: that may have been closed down by the new government), and a refuelling airbase in Ecuador (ditto).

Apart from South Korea, I don't think it has any bases on the Asian mainland around to Pakistan (does it have any in Thailand ? I don't know) and across the Indian Ocean to Diego Suarez.

South America, phooey, you might think: but South America stretches from the Antarctic to level with Vietnam. In fact in the entire southern hemisphere, where does the US have any bases, apart from the three or four in Australia ? None in New Zealand.

Okay, American Samoa.

I'm not saying it should have all that many anywhere, but let's get our sense of proportion right. The US is the devil, but it's not such an imposing devil, sort of a Devil of Oz.

Joe