Defense Secretary William Cohen said Friday the United States was puzzled by recent North Korean military maneuvers and warned that tension over a hunger crisis there could spark a new Korean war "virtually without notice."
Speaking to reporters as he returned from South Korea, Cohen said that while the North's tank and troop movements did not appear threatening, they could be aimed at quashing unrest among civilians who are reported to be suffering from near-famine conditions.He said the United States and South Korea hoped high-level North Korean defector Hwang Jang-yop, temporarily in the Philippines, will go to South Korea soon and provide insight into the state of mind of Pyongyang's military and government.
"There are a variety of reasons why they (North Korean forces) may have done this," including routine training, he said of the maneuvers. "It may be to send a signal to any rebellious citizens. We just simply don't have any access into their mind-set. Maybe the defector will give us an insight."