II. Proposed Committees:
Committee 1: Security Council
Topic: Korean Crisis
Brief Summary of the issue:
The date is 25th November, 2010. Two days ago, on the 23rd, North Korea opened fire on the South Korean Yeonpyeong Island. Two South Korean Marines and an additional two civilians died as a result of this bombardment. Numerous homes and shops were destroyed due to the shelling and ensuing fires. This attack was done in retaliation to South Korean military exercises along the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the UN mandated maritime border it shares with North Korea.
It must be noted that in 1999, the Government of North Korea drew up a new border, the West Sea Military Demarcation Line (WSMDL), which extended further south of the NLL. The aforementioned South Korean military exercises took place in the area claimed by North Korea when it drew up this new border. Neither the UN nor South Korea has recognized the North’s claim over this territory.
In retaliation, the South fired artillery shells on North Korean coastal artillery batteries, and scrambled fighter jets to the area. Sustained damage was done to the North as a result.
The attack received widespread international condemnation from the USA, UK, South Korea, Brazil, and Russia, among other countries. To further add to the crisis, the USA announced the deployment of a Carrier Strike Group yesterday, led by the USS George Washington, to the Yellow Sea for War Games with the South Korean Military. This has further escalated tensions, and the North is rumored to be moving missile units into position for further strikes.
In response to this crisis, the UNSC has convened in order to help defuse the crisis before it escalates into war. Such a war would have global consequences. Two days before the attack, North Korea unveiled a new Uranium enrichment facility, throwing into question its intentions and capabilities.
Committee 2: Historic Security Council
Topic: Afghanistan crisis
In