US response to N Korea’s posturing threatens the world

Tensions are simmering in the Korean peninsula. Despite the sabre-rattling by the United States, there is no letting up of brinkmanship by the belligerent North Korean nation. On Sunday, a day after the strong display of its arsenal on the Day of the Son military parade in Pyongyang, the Kim Jong-un regime launched a missile test, albeit a failed attempt. It was a clear message of defiance in the wake of the visit of Mike Pence, United States’s Vice-President, to the South. Pence is on a 10-day visit to the region to reaffirm the West’s support to its ally. The United States has already dispatched USS Carl Vinson to the western Pacific in hopes of deterring the North Korean regime. How far this will act as a deterrent is anyone’s guess. Under Kim Jong-un, the country has made great strides in advancing its arsenal capabilities. This year’s parade displayed more missiles than ever, including two potential intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which have never been seen before by the world in North Korea. Notably, Kim Jong-un has already test launched more missiles than his father and grandfather combined.

From missiles to manpower, the combined forces were on full display on Saturday as the country marked the birth anniversary of its founding father — Kim Jong-un’s grandfather. It all clearly points to the fact that the regime is not going to bow down to military threats. So far, all negotiations with the hermit kingdom have been frustrating, to say the least. Levying sanctions, too, hasn’t helped much, what with China offering an economic lifeline to the country. The North Korean regime is a pro at using brinkmanship to up the ante and then bargain in terms of sanctions later. A new way forward, therefore, has to be another round of engagement, particularly in partnership with China. It’s only a matter of time before North Korea develops further capabilities, and that would not be a pleasing outcome.