Reports noted that the United States will be conducting joint military exercises with South Korea as an initial response to North Korea’s shelling South Korean military installation. The exercise will include sending the aircraft carrier George Washington and a number of accompanying ships into the region, both to deter further attacks by the North and to signal to China that unless it reins in its unruly ally it will see an even larger American presence in the vicinity. The decision to send the aircraft carrier came as the South Korean military went into what it termed “crisis status.” President Lee said he would order strikes on a North Korean base if there were indications of new attacks.1 The idea of the military exercise is to deter any escalation of the conflict between South and North Korea

• 1. “U.S. to Send Carrier for Joint Exercises Off Korea” The New York Times, November 23, 2010 at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24nkorea.html