Relations between United States and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, have climbed from one step to another since the era of the Korean War. Support of the US to South Korea in the War left a mark on the hearts of North Korean people that has never been lifted. In fact, the hostility reached a burning point earlier when North Korea threatened its ‘‘aggressors’’ including United States with a preemptive NUCLEAR STRIKE to defend its mainland and warned United Nations “not to make another big blunder”. This happened soon after the United Nations voted for tougher sanctions against North Korea in response to its last month nuclear test.
North Korean leadership has always adopted an aggressive stance against its enemies. Korea has threatened its adversaries several times in the past to evade or delay any sanctions. The latest intimidation of a nuclear strike demonstrates a similar response by North Korea when earlier U.S. and China voted for intensified sanctions against Korea in the United Nations. The proposal of latest sanctions intends to impede Korean régime in its nuclear program bringing to a halt. But the result of these sanctions may be contradictory to what has been aimed to achieve in the form of an amplified retaliation by North Korea.
Nuclear history of both nations date back decades. The US positioned its nukes in South Korea to maintain regional deterrence in 1958. The oppressed North Korea sought help from both Russia and China in assistance to develop nuclear weapons but faced refusal. Therefore retorted by front line deployment of its conventional forces and constructing massive underground strongholds against a possible US attack. But North Korea never backed out of its supreme goal of developing nuclear arms conducting its first successful test in 2006.
North Korea has always perceived the presence of United States on the South Korean soil as a threat to its national security. U.S. has been constantly backing South Korea since the division of the Peninsula. Constant accusations have been made by the North Korea against U.S. and South Korea for their heightened military activities. On the other side, alliance of North Korea with communist Soviet Union and China later followed by development of Nuclear Weapons have restrained U.S. from developing cordial relations with North Korea. U.S. also implemented economic sanctions against North Korea from 1950 lasting in 2008.
Leadership of Korea has always adopted military oriented policies. Most of the development reserves are used for the further strengthening of their military forces. Economy of North Korea has greatly impoverished following their military advancement. According to the UN, about two-third population of North Korea suffer from food insecurity. China is the leading trade partner of North Korea. But collaboration of China with U.S. in United Nations resolution against Korean Nuclear program can hamper the relationship of both countries causing further collapse of Korean economy.
Unlike the past, North Korea may review its aggravated decisions following the involvement of China in the sanctions. Losing an economic giant like China as an ally will prove to be a huge setback to Korea in the future. Table talks always make for a better alternative in the development of international relations than resorting to a military settlement. The devastations of a nuclear war can impinge on the generations to come and a nuclear-free World is the way to a prosperous future.
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