North Korea is one of the world’s largest nuclear powers.[1] At the same time, the Pyongyang regime has conducted a record number of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile tests and nuclear exercises in 2022.[2] In this context, it can be stated that the nuclear danger is increasing day by day.
Moreover, North Korea is also in serious competition with the United States (USA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is one of the reasons why the West focuses its attention on the Asia-Pacific geography.
On the other hand, North Korea also gains an advantageous position in the global system due to both the competition between China and the USA and the Russia-Ukraine War that started on February 24, 2022[3] that started on February 24, 2022. Because all of these issues are issues that the US and NATO should spend their energy on.
This situation, which is in question, allows North Korea to find space for itself and be able to carry out its actions more comfortably. In this context, the sanctions resolutions that the West is trying to take against North Korea in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are also rejected by the votes of China and Russia. This leads to the West’s inability to focus enough on the problems centered on North Korea.
At this point, it should be noted that North Korea last attempted to launch a spy satellite on May 31, 2023,[4] but it is known that it failed.[5] Of course, this has caused serious concerns in countries that are geographically close to North Korea, and especially in South Korea and Japan. After the launch took place, the authorities in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, issued warnings on loudspeakers in the city and sent messages to mobile phones that the public should go to safe places. Japan has activated a missile warning system for the city of Okinawa.[6]
The events taking place in the region show that North Korea’s actions cause serious concerns. Of course, because of this, Seoul and Tokyo’s attitude towards Pyonyang is also hardening. In addition, the tension between North Korea and Dec is also increasing day by day. However, it can be suggested that the actions to be implemented in partnership with the United States, Japan and South Korea will provoke North Korea more than deter it.
Moreover, on June 15, 2023, the South Korean Military announced that North Korea had launched two short-range missiles and fired them from the country’s east coast. The launches occurred immediately after Pyongyang warned that it would respond to military exercises organized by South Korean and US troops.[7]
In a statement, the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated that two ballistic missiles probably fell into the country’s exclusive economic zone by flying on an irregular trajectory. Japanese officials stated that one fell into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, about 110 km northwest of Hegura Island, which is part of Ishikawa Prefecture; the other fell about 250 km away.[8]
Later, a joint statement by the United States, South Korea and Japan was issued and Pyongyang’s action in question was sharply condemned. The following statements were made in the statement:[9]
“These launches are a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and demonstrate the threat that North Korea’s illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, international peace and security, and global nuclear non-proliferation hotspots”
In this context, it can be said that the tension in the region is gradually rising due to North Korea’s nuclear actions and has evolved to a dangerous dimension. This indicates that there may be a possibility of a hot conflict in the future. However, it can be argued that the United States will not want a hot conflict in the short term, even over North Korea, due to the Russia-Ukraine War and problems with China.
As a result, it is obvious that the tension caused by North Korea’s nuclear tests will not be resolved in the short term and the tension will rise even higher. However, it is also not expected that this tension will turn into a hot conflict. On the other hand, it is obvious that the threat posed by Pyongyang will strengthen the consolidation on the Seoul-Tokyo-Washington line.
[1] “Is It Tim to Accept North Korea is a Nuclear Power”, Cable News Network, https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/28/asia/north-korea-nuclear-threat-solution-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 06.07.2023).
[2] “North Korea’s Record Year of Missile Testing is Putting the World on Edge”, Cable News Network, https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/26/asia/north-korea-missile-testing-year-end-intl-hnk/index.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 04.07.2023).
[3] “Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Russian Missiles Strike Zelenskyy’s Hometown”, Australian Broadcasting Corportaion News, https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/russia-ukraine-war/?id=99926452 (Erişim Tarihi: 05.07.2023).
[4] “North Korea’s Spy Satellite Lanuch Fails as Rocket Falls into Sea”, The Korea Times, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/05/103_352070.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 05.07.2023).
[5] “North Korea Spy Satellite Launch Fails as Rocket Falls into the Sea”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-launch-military-spy-satellite-db6ce3f08e1ec8e23674aef519d04403,(Erişim Tarihi: 06.07.2023).
[6] Aynı yer.
[7] “North Korea Fires Two Missiles After South Korea-US drills”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/15/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-after-south-korea-us-drills, (Erişim Tarihi: 19.06.2023).
[8] “North Korea Fires Two Short-Range Missiles After Warning of Response to Allied Drills”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-skorea-2023-06-15/, (Erişim Tarihi: 19.06.2023).
[9] “North Korea Launches 2 Ballistic Missiles toward Sea in Protest of US-South Korea Military Drills”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-ballistic-missile-launch-82fc44d252d20d33f15708177d84ffc6, (Erişim Tarihi: 19.06.2023).
