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| North Korean Flag |
Who is the Current North Korean leader?
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| North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un |
The present head of the North Korea is Kim Jong-Un who like his predecessors is notorious for his rigid stance against any foreign influence in the country. He was officially declared as the next supreme leader of DPRK on December 2011 soon after the state funeral of Kim Jong-Il, who was Kim Jong-Un’s father and a fierce rival of the United States of America and the Western countries.
Why does North Korean leader continuously threatens America?
The unified Korean Peninsula was under the occupation of Japan from 1910 till the end of Second World War. The massive battlefield successes of the Allied forces against the Axis powers turned Japan into a Pariah, losing most of its territory outside Japan except Korea and some other regions in the immediate neighborhood.
In 1945, the Soviet Union launched an all-out war on Japan with the consent of the United States of America, liberating the Northern side from Japan. This declaration of war on Japan provided the USA with an opportunity to free the other half of the Korea, and thus US forces landed in the South Korea, forming a parallel governing structure there.
The post-world war two animosities of USA and USSR permanently divided the Korea Peninsula into two rival states, South Korea and North Korea. On the 25th of June 1950, supported by the USSR and China, the North Korean troops attacked South Korean territory, resulting in the war between the Communist and Capitalist blocks. The United States of America, the head of the Capitalist block backed by the Western powers supported South Korea both economically and militarily. This complete support resulted in the withdrawal of North Korean Army from the South Korean territory. The American military aid for South Korea hatched permanent hatred in the hearts of North Korean leadership for America.
The recent surge in tensions goes back to 2006 when North Korea publicly announced that they had carried out an entirely successful test of its nuclear weapons, followed by a series of tests. The most recent of the series was the launch of the Intercontinental ballistic missile in a military Parade organized by the North Korean troops and watched by the Kim Jong-Un, North Korean leader. The aim of the launch on the national holiday was to defy Donald Trump's threats, but the missile test failed. Furthermore, the arrival of American Aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, and the Japanese warships in the Korea Peninsula pointing towards a coming disastrous war between American and allies with the North Korea.
Why is South Korea apprehensive of the North Korean leader?
The historical animosity, military and especially nuclear capability of the North Korea and the recent showcase of live artillery fire by the North Korean regime are a worrying sign for the South Korean leaders because any war-like scenario can result in massive destruction of the South Korean capital, Seoul. The upper echelon of the South Korea leaders with the help of its regional and global allies is trying hard to find loopholes in the North Korean regime, even facilitating those who defect from the Kim regime.
Chinese take on the North Korean leader
China is still the largest trading partner, diplomatic backer and aid provider to the North Korea; however, their relations have declined quite dramatically over the last few years due to the ongoing dispute over North Korea’s nuclear program. In spite of this, China still has better ties to the North Korean leader compared to other states of the world and is also the primary supplier of fuel to North Korea and hence stands a better chance in pressurizing the North Korean regime towards a diplomatic solution.
The rise of Donald Trump’s to the American presidency, his tough stance on the North Korean nuclear issue, and his rhetoric of using Taiwan and North Korean issue as leverage against China in bilateral trade agreements has further decreased any chance of a peaceful solution. The People’s Republic of China can play a significant role in resolving the disputes that are a constant threat to the peace in Korean Peninsula, the region, and the whole world. China has already taken a reasonable step by stopping the flow of fuel and other items to the North Korea. The Chinese leadership can use it as a tool to put pressure on the North Korean leader.
What is ahead?
Currently, the situation looks very bleak given the recent military parade conducted by Kim’s regime and the advance of American Aircraft carrier and Japanese warships into the waters of Korean Peninsula but still there is a hope of peace. The strong language used by both the American President and the North Korean leader may be pointing towards a future war, but Chinese efforts on the matter can be substantially fruitful in diffusing the situation. The Chinese leadership and peace loving circles in the United States of America should try to convince the present American administration to prefer a diplomatic solution to any other option. Let’s hope things will come right back on track because no war can be a solution to the problems.
About Muhammad Asim
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