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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Kim roars again as Trump looks at military options

News Analysis |

North Korea’s top man, Kim Jong Un has pledged to continue efforts to achieve the country’s nuclear goals which are aimed at attaining “military equilibrium” with its nemesis in America. The state-run KCNA released a statement on Saturday according to which Kim said that military parity with the US is his aim.

Not only are military options provocative, but are ineffectual as far as deterrence and compliance are concerned as Kim is well ahead in these games

This comes a day after DPRK launched a ballistic missile over Japan amid the simmering nuclear crisis. “We should clearly show the big power chauvinists how our state attains the goal of completing its nuclear force despite their limitless sanctions and blockade,” Mr. Kim said.

This adds to the troubles of the US. The new sanctions imposed earlier this week by the Security Council have done little to deter and compel the reclusive regime. “My aim is to establish the equilibrium of real force with the US and make the US rulers dare not talk about a military option for the DPRK,” Kim added.

Read more: Provocative signalling by US may compel Kim to press the button

Russia and China have once again added to US worries as they have reiterated their reticence on the use of military hysteria against DPRK

If anything, the sanctions have led to more brazenness on part of the indomitable Kim region. After threatening the US of inflicting the greatest pain, DPRK warned it and Japan of dire actions in the days to come, something which was followed up on Friday.

The missile reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), traveling 3,700km past the northernmost island of Hokkaido before landing in the sea, South Korea’s military asserted. Kim personally oversaw the launch on Friday.

The latest launch has reaffirmed the fact that Kim does not bluff; his threats to Guam, CONUS, Japan and ROK are credible. Despite still not achieving classical MAD, Kim has effectively put the US in a catch 22 situation while decoupling it from its allies, should he launch a strike anywhere.

Read more: Trump’s Twitter rants and Kim’s red lines

The Security Council condemned the launch and termed it highly provocative. President Trump chided Friday’s launch. He said North Korea had “once again shown its utter contempt for its neighbors

Kim’s latest testimony is amply indicative of him launching more tests and ICBM flights. The idea is to ensure MAD albeit without matching warhead to warhead. The nuclear test earlier this month was a major milestone toward that end.

No talks 

The Security Council condemned the launch and termed it highly provocative. President Trump chided Friday’s launch. He said North Korea had “once again shown its utter contempt for its neighbors and the entire world community”, but like always he felt confident in the utility of using military might.

Despite still not achieving classical MAD, Kim has effectively put the US in a catch 22 situation while decoupling it from its allies, should he launch a strike anywhere

National Security Advisor, Lt Gen McMaster said time is running out with regard to DPRK. He said: “There is a military option” but that’s not what we would prefer.” However, it is reasonable to assert that military options are likely to make Kim take a perfectly “rational” decision to draw first blood. US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley who had earlier asserted that Kim is begging for war, again said that though the US would push for diplomacy it would not shy away from handing over the matter to the Pentagon.

Read more: China’s military drills: A signal for Trump or Kim ?

Russia and China have once again added to US worries as they have reiterated their reticence on the use of military hysteria against DPRK. Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasiliy Nebenzia, urged caution, saying: “We think that threats, tests, launches, and mutual threats, in fact, should be stopped and that we should engage in meaningful negotiations.”

This adds to the troubles of the US. The new sanctions imposed earlier this week by the Security Council have done little to deter and compel the reclusive regime

DPRK being China’s underbelly must have been encouraged when the Chinese Ambassador to the US showed his consternation on how the US was handling the matter. “They should refrain from issuing more threats. They should do more to find effective ways to resume dialogue and negotiation,” he said.

Not only are military options provocative, but are ineffectual as far as deterrence and compliance are concerned as Kim is well ahead in these games. As it stands, the US is in a difficult quandary.