Mutual Koreas Sabre-Rattling
Mutual Koreas Sabre-Rattling
Kim Yo-jong issued warnings to S.Korea Getty |
"[Pyongyang would destroy major targets in Seoul should South Korea take any] dangerous military action [such as a pre-emptive strike].""Pyongyang opposes war], But if South Korea, for any reason -- whether or not it is blinded by misjudgement -- opts for such military actions as 'pre-emptive strike' touted by [Suh Wook], the situation will change.""In that case, South Korea itself will become a target.""In case South Korea opts for military confrontation with us, our nuclear combat force will have to inevitably carry out its duty."Kim Yo-jong, senior official in North Korea's government"Yoon's 'pre-emptive strike' comment made the headlines a few months ago, and Pyongyang is seizing Suh's remarks to make a point to the incoming South Korean administration.""North Korea has thus far refrained from criticizing Yoon at any authoritative level, but it certainly seems to be laying the groundwork for it."Rachel Min-young Lee, analyst, 38 North project, United States
On
Friday, South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook had stated that his
country's military possessed a variety of missiles whose range had been
significantly updated, with greater accuracy and power and "the ability to accurately and quickly hit any target in North Korea".
A surprisingly candid and extremely provocative statement, not one to
be casually remarked upon with the expectation that there would be no
response amounting to a none-too-casual threat from North Korea.
Ms Kim is often believed to be the “number two” of the North Korean leadership. Getty Images |
That
response came courtesy of the sister of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong
Un who possesses a good degree of authority within the regime of the
irascible leader. Analysts read Ms.Kim's response as a veiled message
whose recipient-target would most likely be the incoming conservative
president of South Korea. Displays of military strength on the part of
both Koreas have increased following the test-firing by North Korea of a
range of increasingly powerful missiles in 2022 alone.
Incoming
South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has called for a more
muscular defence against threats issued by North Korea. In return the
statements issued by Kim may indicate that Pyongyang is in the process
of preparing the country's population for a planned shift in direction
of inter-Korean relations, with the near prospect of Yoon taking office
in May.
Meeting
with American officials in Washington this week, a delegation from
Yoon's team was welcomed, with American officials reiterating assurance
of the U.S. commitment to the defence of South Korea, outlined in a
statement by the U.S. State Department. How reassuring that might be to
South Korea with Beijing comfortably taking authority in the area and
North Korea being seen as a protege of Beijing, is anyone's guess.
All the more so as Washington's pledges to its allies have not quite matched its actions of late.
North Korea claimed it had fired multiple missiles in March, which the US said was a test for parts of an ICBM system Getty Images |
Labels: Ballistic Missiles, Fraught Relationship, More Assertive, North Korea, South Korea, Threats
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