North Korea made a claim last week that they had now developed fully functional ICBMs (Inter-continental Ballistic Missiles) and showed proof by launching one into the waters on the fourth of July. It was done intentionally on the fourth to supposedly frighten the US, South Korea and boost the morale of their people. Whether or not that was effective or not it began a world wide conversation on whether or not North Korea is a threat we need to take seriously and what we should do about it.
At the head of North Korea is Kim Jong-Un, son of Kim Jong-Il, long term dictator and certified crazy person. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree, so to speak, in this situation. North Korea spends much of what money they actually have, supporting their military industrial complex and slowly attempting to build up an infrastructure. However, the latter has had many problems in the past and the country has had a hard time sustaining itself agriculturally or financially. Many who escape from North Korea talk about the terrible living situations there and how many of the common people secretly do not support the regime.
North Korea is more of a nuisance than a real military problem in the world and the bigger problem is most likely the humanitarian one within the country. Despite one semi successful missile launch, there is very little proof that it could actually successfully be launched the distance they claim it can be launched or even be able to sustain carrying a nuclear weapon. North Korea has made claims in the past and failed again and again in launching despite those claims. I will acknowledge though that as time goes by they do become a serious threat.
South Korea for the most part has pity on the citizens who have to live in the regime and has slowly been amassing a large amount of funds in an attempt to reunite the two countries. The hope was it would perhaps happen after Kim Jong-Il died, but unfortunately that was not the case. The longer we wait addressing the situation in North Korea, the larger possibility that large scale military attacks will be needed. Im not usually someone who promotes going to war in foreign countries for idealistic purposes, but I believe putting together a NATO force might be an action we need to take.
I don’t believe the people in the upper tiers of Kim Jong-Uns regime are dumb enough to believe they could be victorious in a war with most of the world and I also believe that if the situation arose and they were forced to turn on Un and start a coup it might occur. Promising the upper tiers that if they coup and let South Korean forces into the country, for complete immunity, something might happen. These people are not stupid, many simply fear for their lives and are not willing to die for Un. This is why some of them have been killed in the last few years.
Ultimately I believe that North Korea currently doesn’t have the power or control of the weapons to actually be a real reputable threat, but that could change soon. It becomes a much harder situation to address when it does change and the world has a vested interest in removing their current leader from power. The US should meet with China and discuss this possibility, as they are really the closest thing to an ally they have. The biggest problem in my opinion between this agreement would be who would occupy the country after the dismantling and that is what has probably stalled the talks for a long time. China will not want South Korea occupying or taking the country and South Korea and the US do not want China to do it either. However at some point in time it will be crucial that the regime be dismantled. It is bad for all countries, including China to have someone like that making threats.
Thanks to @Elyaque for the badges