How does North Korea’s Kim react to crisis in the South? He blows up the ‘Blue House’

Pyongyang’s obvious delight in the impeachment of ‘vegetable president’ Park Geun-hye has some in Seoul concerned the North may take advantage of the political crisis

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Rodong Sinmun carried a two-page report of the drill, showing several pictures of a building resembling the Blue House being invaded by the North’s troops and destroyed, as well as one of Kim roaring with laughter as he watched the simulated attack. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:05pm, 11 Dec 2016Updated: 10:31pm, 11 Dec 2016

These are euphoric but anxious days for South Korea, as the heady impeachment of a deeply unpopular president leaves the country without a recognised leader at a time of military tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.

And with Pyongyang smarting from a fresh round of UN sanctions and never shy about embarking on a dangerous game of brinkmanship, the one thing the country doesn’t want to display is vulnerability.

But so considerable are the powers vested in the executive in South Korea that Friday’s impeachment stripping them away from President Park Geun-hye inevitably leaves a sizeable vacuum that must seem all too tempting to provocateurs in Pyongyang.

It’s a concern that was swiftly addressed by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the unelected former prosecutor who has temporarily taken on the role and authority of acting president.

South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn at Friday’s meeting. Photo: Xinhua

At an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday, Hwang said he had instructed the military to be extra vigilant to any move by the North to exploit the current situation.

“The government is carrying out all measures necessary to prevent any government vacuum and ease the people’s anxiety,” Hwang said.

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