Alden Minuk ’26
Copy Editor
Tensions between North and South Korea are always high, with North Korea constantly looking to capture their southern neighbour’s land. Both countries claim to be the sole legitimate government of Korea, a belief that has led to high tensions between the Koreas for the past half-century. However, since 2018, North and South Korea have been in an agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries.
Recently, South Korea has withdrawn from parts of the agreement after North Korea had announced their successful launch of a military surveillance satellite. This satellite is a spy satellite that could be used to steal information off South Korea and the US which would aid North Korea’s attempts to modernize their weaponry and become a prevalent threat to their enemies. North Korea, unhappy with the breaking of the agreement, has begun to mobilize forces and supplies to the border.
The launch of a military satellite of this type is prohibited under the UN Security Council’s sanctions against North Korea, designed to prevent North Korea from developing intercontinental nuclear missiles. The launching of the satellite was condemned by South Korea, Japan, The UN, and the USA.
Right now, North Korea’s threats are not very serious, as their technology is sub-par compared to the superpowers of the world. They do have nuclear weaponry, but without a means of using it intercontinentally, it is no more than a glorified paperweight. With the addition of a spy satellite to their repertoire, they may be able to steal the secrets of the intercontinental ballistic missile from other countries and develop one of their own.
North Korean dictators have long believed that the addition of nuclear weaponry to their arsenal would prevent the US from intervening in an invasion of South Korea. If backed into a corner, North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un, has threatened to use such weaponry to attack other nations. The reason why nobody uses nuclear weapons in war is known as‘MAD’: mutually assured destruction. If two nuclear powers went to war, they would utterly obliterate each other and the world. Right now, no nation with nuclear weapons, not even Russia, utilizes them. They are more of a deterrent than a weapon. However, Kim Jong-Un has demonstrated a willingness to take the rest of the world down with him, and if long range missiles are developed in North Korea, the results could be disastrous.
Between the threats of invading South Korea, the launching of a prohibited spy satellite, and the clear demonstration of a desire for weapons of mass destruction North Korea may become a threat to the countries in the west. Should North Korea achieve their goal of invading their southern neighbours or developing nuclear arms it would lead to a bloody and costly war especially if Kim Jong-Un decides to take as many people as possible with him when the rest of the world intervenes.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/23/asia/north-korea-weapons-south-korea-border-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
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