The fact that North Korea is one of the largest nuclear powers in the world[1] and its authoritarian structure creates a serious danger especially in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the whole world in general. On the other hand, Pyongyang is increasing both its nuclear tests and researches and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. Moreover, 2022 was the year that North Korea conducted the most tests.[2]
On the other hand, it can be said that Pyongyang is an actor who aims to oppose the rules-based international order based on the United States (USA). As a matter of fact, there is a serious rivalry between the USA, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and North Korea due to both the nuclear danger it creates and the situation in question. In this context, the USA and NATO organize exercises in the Asia-Pacific Region in partnership with South Korea and Japan. In addition to all these, the danger posed by Pyongyang is also used as a justification for the West’s goal of creating a pole and gaining influence in the region through its opposition to China. In short, the presence of North Korea is used as a legitimating tool in the West’s containment policy against Beijing in the region.
Moreover, North Korea also gains an advantageous position in the global system both in the competition between China and the USA and due to the Russia-Ukraine War that started on February 24, 2022. As a matter of fact, both situations constitute issues that the USA and NATO should spend their resources and energy on. Therefore, the current conjuncture enables Pyongyang to find space for its own activities and to carry out its actions in a much more comfortable way.
In this context, the sanctions decisions that the West tries to take against North Korea within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are also rejected by the votes of China and Russia. As might be expected, this causes the West not to be sufficiently channeled into the North Korean issue.
As a matter of fact, the Pyongyang administration continues its missile tests and drills by increasing it. In this context, North Korea last attempted to launch a spy satellite on May 31, 2023.[3] This caused serious concerns in the surrounding countries, especially in South Korea and Japan. Because, about fourteen minutes after the launch, the authorities in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, both issued a warning from the speakers in the city and sent messages to their mobile phones that the public should go to safe places. Japan, on the other hand, has activated a missile warning system for the city of Okinawa.[4]
All these developments have revealed that Pyongyang’s aforementioned action has created a very serious concern in the region. This, in turn, could lead to a hardening of South Korea and Japan’s stance towards North Korea. At the same time, this development indicates that the tension on the Washington-Pyongyang line will escalate. However, rather than deterring Pyongyang, the actions to be taken by the USA, Japan-South Korea partnership; will provoke.
At this point, it should be stated that; North Korea’s said attempt failed and the satellite launch rocket fell into the sea. According to the statement made by the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the rocket landed on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula after losing its propulsion. In his statement on the subject, US National Security Council Spokesperson Adam Hodge said that the US strongly condemns North Korea for using banned ballistic missile technology, increasing tension in the region and destabilizing the regional-global security environment.[5]
At this point, it is noteworthy that North Korea accepted the failure. Because the failure of an international satellite launch is difficult to accept by authoritarian governments like Pyongyang.
As a result, threats originating from North Korea will not be resolved in the short term; It can even be argued that it will continue to increase. Therefore, the tension between North Korea and the USA-Japan-South Korea trio will continue.
[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, (Date of Accession: 30.05.2023).
[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, (Date of Accession: 01.06.2023).
[3] “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, (Date of Accession: 01.06.2023).
[4] “North Korea’s Failed Satellite Launch Triggers Public Confusion, Security Jitters in Neighbours”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-japan-seoul-rocket-alerts-58ea4cb8e96a4158c33af843569238b7, (Date of Accession: 01.06.2023).
[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, (Date of Accession: 01.06.2023).
