The rhetoric on the Korean peninsula is at the point where the slightest misstep can be viewed as an act of provocation on the demilitarised zone (DMZ). The increased tension comes as a result of North Korea testing two nuclear devices in recent weeks. If that wasn’t bad enough, the despotic and desperate leadership in the isolated neo-Stalinist state has taken things a step further, threatening to launch a nuclear attack on the US.
Thankfully, there is doubt over whether the North Korean military has the technical capability to shrink a nuclear device to a compact size that would fit on a ballistic missile — or if indeed its ballistic missiles are capable of reaching the US.
The bellicose rhetoric and actions come in response to increased UN sanctions on North Korea over its aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons and its complete disregard for the norms of international behaviour. And you know that the situation is bad when even China, a long-time and only ally of Pyongyang, does not oppose the increased sanctions.
Let’s hope all the talk doesn’t spill over into deeds.
