After fifty years of tension-laden teasing and meaningful glances across the demilitarized zone, the divided halves of the Korean peninsula finally got it on this afternoon, following an symbolism-laden torpedo attack on a South Korean Naval vessel.
Sources in the South Korean capital described how the usual Friday game of "chase me, chase me" in the waters around Baengnyeong Island escalated from some high spirited banter into what some analysts are calling "a protracted, passionate tussle". It is reported that the torpedo slammed into the rear of the boat.
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The Koreas were formerly "together" but separated in 1948. The separation followed a spate of revelations about Pyongyang's fling with Russia, who was in occupation next door at the time. Following this break up the North became a recluse, shunning contact with the outside world, and living in a state of squalour.
Korea-watchers are describing todays events as "surprising but not unexpected".
Terence Hannah, for the Institute of International Relations said of today's events: "Well, there has always been tension between the two Koreas, despite their history. One is a sleek, svelte southern filly, who keeps abreast of the trends and is up with modern ways and wiles. The other is a roughty-tufty northern type, who calls a spade a spade and tells things like it is. The events today were inevitable, but the timing has caught us all off-guard. Just last week, Seoul was saying that Pyongyang is completely different to them, that they have nothing in common, and that they want very different things. Pyongyang too was insistent that relations weren't going to change, and we should just stop getting into their business. Well- it seems that was all a front and things were definitely hotting up behind the scenes."
Details of exactly what took place are still sketchy, but it is understood that teams are rushing to the area to search for seamen.