Skip to main content

North Korea Is Reacting

Source: Google Images

United States is willing to act both with military combat, and political diplomacy, with North Korea under the current global scenario.

President Trump is paranoid about stockpiles of nuclear weapons, which North Korea possesses, and wants their immediate removal. It is because Kim Jong-Un has increased missile testing, since he took over the country, in 2011. That’s why, a military strike has already been discussed, in the White House.

Americans think that North Korea is not a regional problem anymore, but an international problem. Fox News poll cites North Korea as a bigger threat to the United States, than ISIS, and believes, that it is the US military, that can stop North Korea’s nuclear program, and diplomacy will not yield any productive measures.

The United States has already sent a nuclear-armoured submarine to the region, to boost its military strength. It is working for harsher sanctions against the communist country. Japan, also, has entered into a military alliance, with the US, and has sent its warships, to join the drills.

Americans have had a history of hate relationships, with major communist countries, of the world. Under a mutual defence treaty signed with South Korea in 1953, about 28,000 US troops were already deployed, near the region, and warplanes rotate the sky, on regular deployments.

In 1994, North Korea and the US agreed to a framework, where North Korea was to freeze its nuclear development capabilities, in return for economic concessions. In 2005, both countries agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and promised to exist peacefully, to normalise relations. But, the times have changed.

North Koreans have dodged imposed UN sanctions, since their first nuclear test, until now. With the help of foreign investments, they are progressing with their nuclear programme.

In this serious situation, to seek defensive measures, the United States has installed THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) anti-ballistic missile system, at South Korean sites, which North Koreans, Russians, and Chinese, believe, is a serious security threat, in the region. ASEAN nations are also expressing grave concern, over the recent developments.

United States has also piled up the pressure, in the recently convened UN Security Council meeting. They are also requesting foreign governments, closer to diplomatic missions in Pyongyang, to work on decommissioning North Korean nukes.

United States leaders are accusing China, of doing nothing, on the issue, although, China wants an end to North Korea’s nuclear programme. Chinese leaders claim that they have worked very hard, to bring both parties to the table. Russia, too, wants a constructive dialogue, between the two countries.

China, which is an ally of both countries, and involved in political tension, can act as a pacifier, but a highly complex situation has evolved.

Many intelligence agencies, contrarily, accuse Chinese politicians are acting like mute spectators, on issues, where Chinese truck companies are assisting the North Korean states, for launching missiles. Also, some Chinese companies have been accused of helping North Korea, extract radioactive substances, necessary for the development of nuclear weapons. Therefore, new controversies are emerging.

Pyongyang is spending highly on military research and development. A lot of military hardware has been boosted on military parades, which make missile launches, from ground launchers and submarines, harder to detect. Testing and missile development have increased twenty-fold, highly indicating the aggressive stances of the North Korean regime.

James Martin Centre for Non-Proliferation Studies cites that four Korean missiles have been already successfully tested, capable to fly up to 3500 kilometres (some estimates suggest up to 4000 kilometres). Other two other missiles are in development that can reach up to 11,500 kilometres (possibly into the mainland United States). The tested weapons can carry conventional, biological and chemical warheads and are likely capable of reaching the west coast area, of the United States.

North Korea prefers to be in retaliation. Although a tiny peninsula in area, it boosts one of the world’s largest militaries, a hard-core communist approach, and fervent nationalism. It has recently been releasing massive missile exercises, probably 300 to 400 artillery drills, on its state media. The country warns of an all-out war with the United States and doesn’t fear its military advances.

Many geologists believe that underground nuclear tests, near one of the world’s deadliest volcanoes, Mount Paektu could premature its eruption, in northern North Korea, near the Chinese border. Its 20-kilometer molten magna could affect the world’s climate, with its plumes of deadly sulphur, especially in China, when winds enter the country, during the eruption.

Conversely, United States, having the most advanced defence systems, in the world, has always dictated, and likes subordinate powers, to protect its national and foreign interests, for many decades. This stance is not going well with North Korea.

It seems that Trump doesn’t mind having a nuclear war, with North Korea, but prefers talks right now. The military consequences in haste, however, can become catastrophic.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

String of Pearls

Photo source: Indian Express By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe UpFront For quite some time, China has been in the quest for political, military and economic espionage. This has been done through a network of installations known as the ‘String of Pearls’.  It is aimed to project a dominating presence in littoral South Asia. One such aim exhibited by the ‘String of Pearls’ strategy is the maritime dominance. By embarking on this approach, China wants to counter other superpowers such as the United States. There are some who support China’s geopolitical rise against American hegemony for a needful balance of power. In fact, what China wants to do, has been already done in the past by the British, Portuguese, Dutch and Spaniards, during the colonial times.   Indian strategists fear that Chinese economic buildup, due to the advent of ports in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan government leased Hambantota port for a 99-year lease to the Chinese, where the latter agre...

Farewell Note by Editor

  In thirteen years of writing journey, Globe Upfront went on a crusade to disseminate long form writing on myriad global issues. Due to some circumstances, the writer of the blog won’t be able to write on the beat anymore. A farewell note from the writer is apt for a time like this. While writing for Globe Upfront, author Naveed Qazi was also praised by some in the local media. He mentions this blog as part of his fulfilment journey towards societal emancipation. He also acknowledges that it’s a journey that he would cherish in future as an intellectual nostalgia.

Italy's Fractured Democracy

Photo source: The Nation By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront It has been an eventful election in Italy in March 2018. A hung parliament means that cutting deals to form a coalition government, has become pivotal, to end the political stalemate. However, since March 4, 2018 a month has passed, but still, there have been a series of failed negotiations between the centre-right political parties. The Five Star Movement – M5S has emerged as the single largest party, having a populist message, whereas the League has gained ‘historic strides’ in the vote share this time around. After the Italian election, many things have become clearer. The election reflects that a large number of Italians favour a Euroskeptic, and a strongly nationalist political base. Like the Brits and the Greeks, the Italians don’t have positive opinions of the European Union. This is a stark difference between them and the Germans and the French now, who loathe about the benefits of staying in the Eurozone. H...