A Tale of Two Islands What Costa Rica and South Korea have in
common. 9:30 AM, Mar 1, 2011 • By JAIME DAREMBLUM This past
November, two anti-American governments each committed an act of
aggression against the island territory of a neighboring
democracy. North Korea shelled the South Korean island of
Yeonpyeong, killing two soldiers and two civilians. Nicaragua’s
well-staffed and armed military forces invaded and occupied the
Costa Rican island of Calero. The North Korean aggression
prompted full-throated international condemnations and calls for
U.N. action. The Nicaraguan aggression, however, was largely
ignored. What explains the different reactions? For one thing,
North Korea perpetrated physical violence that led to four
deaths, whereas Nicaragua did not spill any blood in its
conquest of Calero Island. For another thing, North Korea
represents a much greater threat to regional and global
stability than does Nicaragua because Kim Jong Il has a nuclear
arsenal, while Nicaragua does not. But Costa Rica doe