A nuclear arms race? The efforts of South Korea and the US to rival North Korea

Today there is talk of the nuclear exercises that could be organized USA Y South Korea. However, this is a matter that has been discussed for several months and that has North Korea -and his recurring ballistic weapons tests- as his main concern.

In October of this year, Japan joined the alliance against North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his threats. So, remember Infobae, that “the heads of the Armed Forces of the three countries met in Washington” and discussed the importance of “maintain regional peace and stability” in the region.

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There was also talk of the need to contain Kim and “defend south korea”.

In response, they organized the Comprehensive Combat Readiness Training, scheduled “between October 31 and November 4”.

It was not the only thing they did.

By December 14, 2022, USA created in South Korea a special unit fordetect the launch of North Korean ballistic missiles”located in osannearly seoul. In this way, he increased his armed arm in that country (according to Deutsche Welle, the US already has deployed there more than 28 thousand soldiers).

A new North Korean ballistic test, just at the end of December, alerted the allies again. In addition, Kim announced that he would support the “exponential increase” of its nuclear arsenal, in response to the “hostilityfrom other nations. In fact, according to his plan of “2023 nuclear and defense strategy″, it shall be “develop another ICBM system whose main mission is a rapid nuclear counterattack”.

Hence the US and South Korea respond by organizing joint exercises.

“Nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises and training must be joint between South Korea and the United States”, declared the South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

And he added in a statement:Our army must resolutely and decisively respond to any provocation carried out by the enemy […] They must understand that only the strong mental preparation of our troops and realistic training can guarantee strong security.”.

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Missiles and other interests

It is frequent that South Korea and its allies respond with military exercises to the ballistic missile tests it is carrying out North Korea. What is different about this case, notes the analyst Francesco Tucciis that joint action with the United States involves nuclear arsenal.

It is not a simple matter. Tucci recalls that North Korean politics gives special interest to military development. “Kim tried to reduce that expense, but realized that the initiative started by her grandfather and followed by her father is indispensable. He will only feel safe when he has a nuclear arsenal that can hit USA”.

And, to date, that is the weak point of his regime: it does not have the technology to produce those intercontinental missiles. Hence, now announce that promote this program. “Kim is convinced that this is the only way he will be able to sit at the table with the US president and negotiate from a position of strength a way out of the economic crisis in his country.”.

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The response of the South and the US is understood from two variables.

The first is the geostrategic position of the Korean peninsula. being so close to Japan, Russia Y China, the United States is very jealous of your care. “To this is added that China is not interested in the reunification of the Koreas under the leadership of the South. He is also not in favor of crises because to achieve his goals they need to avoid disturbances. The same is true of Russia, which feels cornered by the results of its war against Ukraine”.

The other thing to consider is the role of the new president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol. “it’s gone Moon Jae-in, who was characterized as moderate. Yoon, by contrast, is quite pro-American and supports positions that involve the use of force. That can make relations between the Koreas worse.”.

What’s next? Tucci concludes: “It is possible that an arms race will begin and both sides will begin to test their new technologies. But by no means should we view Kim and his crew as crazy. Do not underestimate them: they are ruthless leaders who operate within a strategic vision.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.