N.Korea seen developing guerrilla tactics

SEOUL, June 23 (UPI) -- Nuclear-armed North Korea may also be seeking to improve guerrilla warfare tactics to include roadside bombings, the U.S. commander said in Seoul Tuesday.

Speaking to a group of South Korean army personnel, Gen. Walter Sharp said in the event of a full-fledged conflict on the Koran Peninsula, the North Koreans might use such improvised explosive devices or IEDs both against the civilians and South Korean and U.S. forces stationed in the country, Yonhap news agency reported.

"I believe we will face IEDs, insurgent forces in addition to large conventional attacks," warned Sharp, commander of 28,500-U.S. military force in the region.

Concerns about a conflict on the peninsula have risen since North Korea conducted its second nuclear test last month and following it up by scrapping the truce that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

Sharp called for "realistic training" to ensure the forces are "fully prepared for a thinking enemy, an enemy that will use IEDs, hide among the population and strike our rear forces and civilians."

"This enemy will require us to use our weapons much more precisely, to reduce civilian casualties and collateral damage."