News Analysis |
North Korea has warned the US of dire consequences if UNSC ratifies punitive sanctions against the country on Monday, adding further fuel to the incendiary crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The state media KCNA released the statement of the Foreign Ministry, according to which Pyongyang will inflict great pain to the US if sanctions are imposed.
The ball is well and truly in Washington’s court. It has to dis-Pell the image that Kim’s warheads will be plucked out in a counterforce first strike
“The DPRK is ready and willing to use any form of ultimate means. The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the US the greatest pain and suffering, it had ever gone through in its entire history,” the statement read.
The current bout of tensions started when DPRK tested a Hydrogen Bomb capable of being mounted on an ICBM. Despite hue and cry, Kim Jong Un lauded the scientists in a celebratory event on Sunday. While the US dished out a series of threats to the regime, it vowed to send more “gifts” to the US, should it the country continue to browbeat.
The UNSC is slated to meet on Monday to discuss invoking sanctions on the regime to include an oil embargo, a ban on North Korean laborers and an asset freeze on leader Kim Jong Un.
It has stoked up his vulnerabilities leading to him beefing up his nuclear forces. As of now, Pyongyang has made its threats to the US cities, ROK, Japan and Guam credible
The US while threatening the regime of a massive military response are pushing forward the case for tougher sanctions, which are likely to be vetoed by China and Russia. President
Putin warned the US against ramping up military hysteria and sanctions against the regime.
China has often been censured for not doing enough to rein in North Korea agreed to new sanctions last week but still implored upon the US to take to diplomacy. “Any new actions taken by the international community against the DPRK should serve the purpose of curbing the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs, while at the same time be conducive to restarting dialogue and consultation,” said China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi last week.
If the US backs off, Kim will continue to bolster its nuclear forces, something exactly what the US doesn’t want
China also carried out live military drills on the border, an act which many believe is a
signal to the US. Both historical and current strategic factors preclude the likelihood of China pushing DPRK as the country cannot afford a lopsided Korean Peninsula. Also, if China turns away, nuclear weapons will become more indispensable for Kim.
Kim sits pretty
The 32-year old fiery leader of DPRK now finds himself ahead of his adversaries in the brewing conflict. The US has found out that threats have neither deterred nor compelled him. If anything, it has stoked up his vulnerabilities leading to him beefing up his nuclear forces. As of now, Pyongyang has made its threats to the US cities, ROK, Japan and Guam credible.
The UNSC is slated to meet on Monday to discuss invoking sanctions on the regime to include an oil embargo, a ban on North Korean laborers and an asset freeze on leader Kim Jong Un
The US finds itself in a predicament. If they ramp-up pressure, Kim might press the button causing damage to cities and innocent people. If the US backs off, Kim will continue to bolster its nuclear forces, something exactly what the US doesn’t want.
Kim has also effectively decoupled the US and its allies. The US may not deem it reasonable to go all-out to protect Tokyo at the cost of losing CONUS. The ball is well and truly in Washington’s court. It has to dispell the image that Kim’s warheads will be plucked out in a counterforce first strike. If Kim becomes sure of such an eventuality, he will feel that it is better ‘using’ them than ‘losing’ them. Weaker nuclear states should not be provoked, especially those who bank upon these weapons instead of other sinews of power.
