Editing North Korea–South Korea relations (section)

=== Lee Myung-bak government ===
[[File:Joint Security Area, Korean DMZ, looking south.jpg|thumb|The Korean DMZ in 2012, viewed from the north.]]
The Sunshine Policy was formally abandoned by the new South Korean President [[Lee Myung-bak]] in 2010.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-formally-declares-end-to-sunshine-policy--108904544/130750.html South Korea Formally Declares End to Sunshine Policy], [https://www.voanews.com Voice of America], 18 November 2010</ref>

On 26 March 2010, the 1,500-ton [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|ROKS ''Cheonan'']] with a crew of 104, sank off [[Baengnyeongdo]] in the [[Yellow Sea]]. Seoul said there was an explosion at the stern, and was investigating whether a torpedo attack was the cause. Out of 104 sailors, 46 died and 58 were rescued. Lee convened an emergency meeting of security officials and ordered the military to focus on rescuing the sailors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.response.stratfor.com/e/es.aspx?s=1483&e=3399&elq=05cf8be54ef54e1da76265c30506d3cd |title=Geopolitical Weekly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193339/http://app.response.stratfor.com/e/es.aspx?s=1483&e=3399&elq=05cf8be54ef54e1da76265c30506d3cd |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title='Blast' sinks S Korea navy ship |date=26 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327065313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm |archive-date=27 March 2010 }}</ref> On 20 May 2010, a team of international researchers published results claiming that the sinking had been caused by a North Korean torpedo; North Korea rejected the findings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10131683 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Anger at North Korea over sinking |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523031829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10131683.stm |archive-date=23 May 2010 }}</ref> South Korea agreed with the findings from the research group and Lee declared afterwards that Seoul would cut all trade with North Korea as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/south-korea-cuts-trade-ties-with-north-over-sinking-20100524-w7y6.html|title=South Korea cuts trade ties with North over sinking|last=Choe Sang-Hun|date=24 May 2010|work=The Age|access-date=17 December 2024|location=Melbourne, Australia}}</ref> North Korea denied all such allegations and responded by severing ties between the countries and announced it abrogated the previous non-aggression agreement.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64O3YU20100525 Text from North Korea statement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605153427/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64O3YU20100525 |date=5 June 2010 }}, by Jonathan Thatcher, Reuters, 25 May 2010</ref>

On 23 November 2010, [[Bombardment of Yeonpyeong|North Korea's artillery fired]] at South Korea's [[Daeyeonpyeong|Yeonpyeong]] island in the Yellow Sea and South Korea returned fire. Two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed, more than a dozen were wounded, including three civilians. About 10 North Koreans were believed to be killed; however, the North Korean government denies this. The town was evacuated and South Korea warned of stern retaliation, with Lee ordering the destruction of a nearby North Korea missile base if further provocation should occur.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/11/23/81/0301000000AEN20101123013700315F.HTML |title=(LEAD) S. Korea vows 'stern retaliation' against N. Korea's attacks |language=ko |publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617105614/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/11/23/81/0301000000AEN20101123013700315F.HTML |archive-date=17 June 2012 }}</ref> The official North Korean news agency, KCNA, stated that North Korea only fired after the South had "recklessly fired into our sea area".<ref name=nyt-20101123>{{Cite news|last=McDonald |first=Mark |title=North and South Korea Exchange Fire, Killing Two |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24korea.html?src=mv |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=23 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125081055/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24korea.html?src=mv |archive-date=25 November 2010 }}</ref>

In 2011 it was revealed that North Korea abducted four high-ranking South Korean military officers in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rahn |last=Kim |title=North Korea abducted 4 South Korean military officers' |date=20 May 2011 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87371.html |work=[[The Korea Times]] |access-date=31 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522000420/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87371.html |archive-date=22 May 2011 }}</ref>