Fidel Castro Cautions North Korea Against Initiating War

In a written commentary, Fidel Castro warned North Korea against inciting a war that would affect 70% of the population of the planet. Tensions have been escalating in the Korean peninsula for the past few weeks in the wake of threats issued by Pyongyang against South Korea and the United States.

The former President of Cuba called the developing situation at the Korean peninsula “absurd.” The column was recently published by the state media of Cuba. Castro’s assessment is that the impending nuclear threat from North Korea is the greatest that the world has seen since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis which almost brought the United States and Russia to war. Castro has since become opposed to nuclear warfare.

“Fidel’s Reflections”

Formerly the strongman of Cube, Fidel Castro is now 86 years old but his voice and influence in his native country has not waned despite the years.

The increasing tensions in the Korean peninsula had compelled him to respond with a public written commentary. His column for the state media is entitled “Fidel’s Reflections” and the last time Castro wrote a published commentary was almost a year ago in June 2012. The contents of the most recent publication were mostly strong warnings and stern admonishments for both North Korea and the United States.

End hostilities

Cuba and North Korea are known allies having both chosen the communist ideal. Castro is now calling out to North Korea to end hostilities. In his column, Castro wrote that war in the Korean peninsula would benefit no one on both sides of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and that the peoples of both North and South will only be “terribly sacrificed” without reasonable cause.

Castro reminds North Korea that its technical prowess and recent achievements have already been seen by the world and that now, it is time to assume responsibility and be reminded of the country’s duty to its long-time allies. He reiterated the friendship that Cuba and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea share and reminisced the honor of meeting Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. He reminded North Korea to remember that the ripples of such a war would reach far and wide and not just envelope it its enemies but its allies as well. Castro was very clear with his arguments as he called for Pyongyang to refrain from choosing the option of atomic warfare.

Avoid war

Castro also extended a message to Cuba’s neighbor and South Korea’s ally the United States to do everything in its power to “avoid a clash.” He warned President Barack Obama against a set of actions that would condemn him to be thought of as “the most sinister” person in US history. Castro said that the President of the United States and his people have the duty to avert war.

Most analysts are saying that despite the threats on the United States and its neighbor to the south, Pyongyang is not yet capable of a nuclear strike that would affect the US mainland in the manner that is commensurate to the threat.