(Kim Jong Un walks away from what state media said was a "new type" of intercontinental ballistic missile. Source: KCNA / VIA REUTERS)
North Korea’s recent rounds of tests began on September 24, 2022, as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group arrived in South Korea to participate in military naval drills. On Tuesday, October 4th, North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan without warning. This unannounced launch was seen as highly provocative, dangerous, and reckless. In response, the U.S redeployed Ronald Reagan back to the seas around the Koreas for a new round of naval drills, as well as numerous other military drills. On Thursday, October 6th, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the waters. On Sunday, October 9th, once again, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea. According to CNN, Sunday marks North Korea’s 25th missile launch this year.
In a press conference in Santiago, Chile, U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that if the situation continues to escalate, “it will only increase the condemnation, increase the isolation and increase steps that are taken in response.” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff “strongly condemned” and urged the North to immediately stop its launches, calling them “a serious provocation that harms peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula” and in “violation of the [U.N. Security Council] resolutions.”
However, on Saturday, North Korea defended its recent missile launches as a “regular and planned self-defensive step” against intimidating military drills between the U.S, South Korea, and Japan. North Korea’s defense ministry argues that U.S-South Korean military drills are considered rehearsals for invasion, especially if they involve U.S strategic assets such as the aircraft carrier Reagan. Therefore, the ministry claims that its recent missile launches are a “righteous reaction,” regardless of the U.S or South Korea’s claims of having no intention of invading North Korea. China’s Ambassador to the U.N., Geng Shuang, supported North Korea’s defense. According to Geng, the U.S deployment of military assets was to blame for “creating tension.”
Experts claim that recent launches demonstrate his push for weapon modernization. South Korean and U.S officials have warned that a nuclear test could come “anytime.” Earlier this year, North Korea argues to “never give up” nuclear weapons to counter U.S nuclear threats. Despite employing sanctions against North Korea, the U.S’s objective of denuclearizing North Korea seemed to have failed. Nevertheless, efforts of deterrence are still necessary. If Kim succeeds in his nuclearization plans, North Korea would outrun South Korea in an arms race. Abandoning denuclearization would likely set a bad precedent, and so other countries would be encouraged to seek nuclear weapons. In addition, this would drive a wedge between the U.S and its allies in the East, especially South Korea and Japan. Possibly, the allies would feel that the U.S has abandoned them, thus compelling them to develop nuclear weapons. With Pyongyang’s hopes of allying with Beijing and Moscow, Washington needs to continue with its firm stance against Pyongyang to strengthen its alliance and power in Asia.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/asia/north-korea-missile-japan-explainer-intl-hnkhttps://www.cnn.com/2022/10/05/politics/us-north-korea-response/index.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-fires-suspected-ballistic-missile-11665252154https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/08/asia/north-korea-missile-launchhttps://www.cnn.com/2022/10/07/asia/north-korea-missile-testing-frequency-explainer-intl-hnk/index.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/08/north-korea-has-fired-ballistic-missile-says-seoulhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/05/north-korea-missile-tests-military-drills/
5 comments:
When I read this blog I found it funny that people are competing to kill each other. It makes me wonder why a lot of countries with nuclear firepower try to threaten each other by sending missiles into the water or unused land. There is no real way for the US to stop this and I think it's like a weird pheonomenon where because each country (North Korean and the US) want to out class each other, they will never stop. I don't see how South Korea's military drills signal an invasion and in my opinion, launching nuclear missiles isn't the most effective method. The resources taken to create human killing weapons is honestly pointless.
Public military displays have been a commonly used tactic for decades. Countries always try to show military dominance as a threat/warning. However, there is uncertainty about whether North Korea would actually do real harm and use nuclear missles -- I think it would be unlikely.
This military tactic has been used for decades. Countries will always try to show their military dominance will these drills. Often, it is just for show, but still, there is some uncertainty about North Korea and what they would actually do with a functioning nuclear arsenal. I think it is unlikely that they would actually put them to use -- it is more of a statement of power.
Public military drills are a display of power and a tactic that has been used by many countries for decades. Usually, it is all preformative -- a country will attempt to assert its military superiority as a warning. However, what people are concerned about with North Korea is the uncertainty about how North Korea would act with a fully functioning nuclear arsenal. It is unlikely that they would ever put it to real use, but it still is worrying to many.
There’s not much else the U.S. can do to help denuclearize North Korea. Numerous deals have been pursued in an effort to help denuclearize the nation, although none have been successful (including a successful but quickly-broken deal signed during the Clinton administration). U.S. sanctions are already so strong on North Korea, that aside from an unlikely nuclear deal, the U.S. cannot do anything to put further pressure on North Korea to end its nuclear program. Only pressure from China, North Korea’s most important ally, could force North Korea to the bargaining table.
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