North Korea poses a serious threat due to the fact that it is a rising nuclear power in the Asia-Pacific Region. As a matter of fact, the fact that this threat is a nuclear threat raises serious concerns both globally and regionally. As a matter of fact, this situation leads to cooperation between states such as South Korea, Japan and Australia, which constitute the important sac pillars of the Western Alliance in the region.
These alliances, formed under the leadership of Washington, have brought with them many harsh statements and military exercises. These actions and discourses are aimed at deterring the Pyongyang administration. But in practice, the situation does not work that way. It can be said that North Korea is provoked by all kinds of countermeasures and is on its way to further increasing its own power.
South Korea is the country that feels the threats from North Korea most closely in the Asia-Pacific Region. As a matter of fact, the situation in question is bringing the country, which already has a Western perspective, closer to the line of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) day by day. It can be said that all this, far from playing a role in reducing the danger on a regional scale, further provokes Pyongyang.
Such a situation also leads South Korea to request support from the United States and NATO in order to increase both its defensive and offensive capabilities. In particular, it is known that in recent months the Seoul Government has requested Washington’s support and cooperation in conducting nuclear exercises in the Asia-Pacific Region, and the United States has rejected this request. This situation is also thought to be the goal of maintaining the support provided by the United States to the region at a certain level.
At this point, the negotiations to be held within the framework of security can be interpreted as the fact that the United States does not want to leave its alliance in the region completely alone, and at some point it pays to reject previous demands. As a matter of fact, the United States both keeps its support limited in this region and, despite this, tries to strengthen its own influence by consolidating the consolidation of the alliance.
On the other hand, the US interest in the Asia-Pacific Region is increasing day by day. As a matter of fact, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has made frequent visits to South Korea and Japan. [1] It can be said that North Korea’s presence in this region and its increasing nuclear tests with its growing nuclear power are an important reason for the West’s increasing interest in this region, especially within the framework of security.
In this context, states such as Japan and South Korea, which are included in the Western Bloc in the region, feel this danger quite closely. In particular, the fact that Seoul feels the danger in question quite closely increases the country’s need for the West and the United States. Because South Korea does not have a nuclear power.
In addition, the United States and the West also provide security guarantees to their allies in order to ensure the consolidation of their allies in the region. Because the United States [2] will only be able to maintain and increase the commitment of the states here to it by offering a security guarantee.
As a result, it can be said that the United States will not want to increase regional tensions, but its actions and rhetoric have evolved into this situation. Because it is believed that the entry into a nuclear arms race in the region and the occurrence of a security dilemma or uncontrolled escalation of tensions will create a disadvantageous situation for both sides. After all, it is conceivable that the United States will not want a new area of military tension in a plane where the Russia-Ukraine War is continuing.
[1] “UPDATE: NATO Secretary General to Visit Republic of Korea and Japan”, North Atlantic Treaty Organization,https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_211016.htm, (Erişim Tarihi: 06.09.2023).
[2] “Defence Chiefs of U.S., S. Korea Vow to Step up Drills to Counter North”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/austin-south-korea-yoon-seeks-greater-us-nuclear-assurances-2023-01-30/, (Erişim Tarihi: 06.09.2023).
