Despite the numerous economic sanctions that the UN has imposed on North Korea through the years, they continue to develop their nuclear missile program and somehow keep their economy floating by finding ways to still do trade.
North Korea is the world’s most heavily sanctioned country and yet they continually show off their military advancements program and the capabilities of their nuclear arsenal. Something that is clearly bothering its neighbors and the United States.
On September 3rd, North Korea claimed that they had successfully carried out their most powerful nuclear bomb test. They detonated a hydrogen bomb on the Punggye-ri testing field that caused a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. These hydrogen bombs can allegedly be loaded into a long range ballistic missile.
With his actions, Kim Jung-un seems to be telling the world that he is not afraid of the consequences of further developing the country’s nuclear missile program.
Along with Kim Jung-un, North Korean officials have come out and said that they will not cut any budget from their nuclear program simply because that will protect them against any threat from the United States or its allies.
South Korea and Japan Concerned about North Korea
South Korea and Japan could be the most affected countries if there is a war with North Korea. Each one released an official statement saying that they will push through the UN Security Council for further economic isolation of North Korea.
Both countries are coordinating with the United States military exercises to respond in case of a possible attack from Pyongyang. All parties are also seeking for the deployment of some of the most powerful military assets from the United States into South Korean and Japanese territories.
The South Korean government insists that they will remain committed to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and that they do not want to allow North Korea to have a further enhanced nuclear program.
All Options Are on the Table
Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, President Donald Trump, and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, have spoken about North Korea and its recent nuclear test.
President Trump said in a tweet “The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea.” Which clearly means that the United States will continue to push for more UN economic sanctions. A strategy that is simply not working because the North Koreans have become masters at evading the UN’s sanctions and still do trade.
Trump also met with General Kelly and General Mattis to discuss North Korea. After the meeting, general Mattis said to the press that there are many military options and that any threat to the U.S or its territories will unleash a massive military retaliation.
Ambassador Haley, along with Japan, France, South Korea, and the UK, called for an emergency security council meeting where they discussed the nuclear test in North Korea. Haley told the UN council that with the latest actions, North Korea was ¨begging for war¨
With the rising tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, many people are starting to wonder if nuclear missiles will continue to be the main deterrence from any possible attacks
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