Columns of smoke rise over South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island on Nov. 23, 2010 after the North Korean artillery attack. Some 1,800 residents of the island were taken to shelter. Two South Koreans were killed and a dozen others were wounded in the attack.

I am unfortunately not surprised, but nonetheless appalled at North Korea's provocative attack on Yeonpyeong Island. I am well aware that Seoul is within artillery range of the border, and that there exists few options for the South Korean government as concerns a measured response to the insane regime that holds captive the minds and souls of your northern brothers and sisters.

On this Thanksgiving day as celebrated in the United States, I stop to take a moment and extend my thanks to you personally for your good work and support, and pray that peace will somehow prevail in your country.

The long succession of provocations North Korea has exacted on South Korea over many, many years illustrates that the "Korean War" as Americans refer to it in their history books is still ongoing for all Koreans some sixty years later.

This has been the cause for much grief and suffering and I can only imagine what it must be like to live under such circumstances.

My thoughts are with you and your country.