In recent years, North Korea has not been in the good books of the international community over the country’s determination to produce and stockpile weapons of mass destruction( WMD). What began as mere suspicion became manifest in North Korea’s testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles and the launch of Multipurpose satellite into space. At the last count, North Korea had tested five missiles into the Korean Sea in utter violation of international conventions and protocols against production, testing and stockpile of WMDs.
Out of the five missile tests carried out by the regime in North Korea, four were carried out during the administration of former US President, Barack Obama, who in condemnation of the serial acts of recalcitrance increased his country’s sanctions against North Korea and also mobilized the United Nations to expand the regime of sanctions against the country. The latest test carried out by North Korea has however, drawn the ire of the new US president, Donald Trump.
America’s opposition to the North Korea’s nuclear build up stems from her alliance with South Korea and Japan both of which are in the Korean Peninsula like North Korea. And since both countries rely almost entirely on America on defence and security issues, the rise of North Korea in WMDs becomes a direct concern of the US.
The two countries have every reason to worry about North Korea’s nuclear Programme given the historical animosity and tensions between them. In fact, pundits have contended that North and South Korea are “technically at war” since the conflict between the two countries (1950-’53) ended in a truce and not a peace treaty. Against this background, it can be said that North Korea’s nuclear behavior has been consistent with this position since she has not only used the Korean Sea to test her weapons but she severally threatened to attack South Korea and Japan in the event of any military action from America in opposition to her nuclear Programme. And this is the crux of the matter.
In the last two weeks, White House officials have said all options including military confrontation were in consideration to get Pyongyang behave- abandon her nuclear Programme. President Trump even made it more poignantly when he tweeted penultimate week that “North Korea was looking for trouble” , adding “if China decides to help, that would be great, if not we will solve the problem without them.”
In an apparent move to give vent to Trump’s comment on the Tweeter, the US military appear to have commenced mobilization towards North Korea with the diversion of the Navy Strike Group Carl Vinson from Australia to the Korean Peninsula in what officials said was show of force. North Korea is not convinced as she sees US action as an act of aggression targeted against her.
If North Korea was still in doubt about America’s seriousness, the attack on Syria two weeks ago left no one in doubt about Trump’s readiness to explore the military option in pushing his positions in his international engagements. Besides Syria, the use of the “ mother of all bombs”, the largest conventional bomb to be used in warfare in Afghanistan last week has further confirmed The new direction of America’s foreign policy
North Korea on the other hand is not taking matters lying low as the country said it was ready to respond appropriately in the event of US military attack.
A North Korean official newspaper Rodong Sinmun in a report last week echoed the country’s official position saying North would respond to military attacks from the US.
“Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,” the newspaper said.
South Korea which is likely the first target by North Korea in the event of military conflagration has intensified its vigilance. The country’s acting President, Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of “greater provocations” from North Korea and has directed the country’s military to intensify monitoring of the situation and to step up contacts with officials in America.
“It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People’s Assembly,” Hwang was quoted to have said.
North Korea indeed held the People’s Assembly Which takes place twice a year on Tuesday presided by the country’s leader – Kim Jong Il but curiously the Assembly was silent on the country’s nuclear Programme and the military threat from America. It also did not discuss the security and tensions in the Korean Peninsula. The Assembly merely reviewed the annual budget performance and the leader announced some personal appointments.
However, pundits have predicted that North would conduct yet another nuclear test to coincide with yesterday’s 105th Anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country’s founding father and grandfather of the current ruler.
A military parade was expected in Pyongyang yesterday to mark the day. In keeping with an emerging tradition, North Korea marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities. It was still not clear at press time whether the country would maintain the merging tradition with this anniversary.
The above scenario presents the world community with a nightmare of nuclear warfare. There is indeed a looming danger of nuclear warfare if the US goes ahead with the declared intent to use the military option against North Korea. On the other hand, North Korea, already identified as a “rogue state” has against all protestations manufactured nuclear weapons and developed capacity to deploy the intercontinental ballistic missiles.
In the event of an attack, analysts reason that the regime in Pyongyang could act out of desperation and unleash the nuclear war heads on the enemy targets. The consequences of such an action can better be imagined. And given the dictatorial tendencies of the North Korean leader such a reaction cannot be completely ruled out.
It is perhaps to avoid the devastating consequences of such a situation that China has called for more negotiations to get North Korea abandon her nuclear Programme.
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi, who re- echoed his country’s stance was quoted by Reuters as saying:
“The situation is tense and we certainly want a peaceful solution and we believe that it is highly important to move toward denuclearization, to maintain peace and stability and it’s time that different sides sit down to talk about achieving these objectives,”
From the look of things, China might be the ultimate arbiter in the impending military face-off since the country appears to have reasonable influence over North Korea and is pushing for a trade deal with America. Both sides are therefore, likely to respect the Chinese’ position or intervention to save humanity a cataclysmic war that the US- North Korea military confrontation portends.