North Korea’s declaration to launch what it calls a satellite-carrying rocket has drawn opprobrium across the world. The rogue regime of Kim Jong-Un has been defying UN and western sanctions to go against the grain of civility in its tenuous ties with world powers. Despite a flagging economy, ailing infrastructure and the lack of basic needs for its population, the authoritarian regime has been trying to shore up its military capability by testing nuclear weapons, which are a grave threat to the security of its neighbours — South Korea and Japan.
The proposed launch violates UN sanctions banning Pyongyang from testing ballistic missiles. South Korea’s trepidation at the planned launch projects the concern not only of Seoul but of the entire region, which is generally left fulminating at the capricious behaviour of Kim’s regime.
South Korean president Park Geun-Hye went on the offensive yesterday saying Pyongyang’s move ‘can never be tolerated’. Her words reflect the resentment of Seoul that has been confronting its aggressive northern neighbour by opposing its many moves seen as further damaging ties that are severely frayed. The North’s recent testing of a purported fusion device ruffled many feathers. It was widely believed that Kim’s regime was prevaricating about the nuclear device that is a more potent threat than a conventional nuclear bomb — a fission device.
The United States has been watching with concern as the North plans to launch the rocket sometime between February 8 and 25. Sanctions have failed to discourage the reclusive and irresponsible administration of North Korea from flexing its muscle. It is not surprising that Pyongyang is trying to ratchet up tension on the Korean peninsula with the planned move. It is interesting that the window for the launch has been spread out over several days to keep the world in a frenzied state of anticipation.
While countries like Cuba and Zimbabwe, though not very close to the United States and other western powers, have been seen to eye rapprochement, North Korea has been defying world powers. It is probably in Kim’s interest to keep his country’s population focused on an aggressive foreign policy so that domestic problems are obfuscated from the masses.
Pyongyang’s abysmal human rights record is for all to see. The secretive dynastic rule in the country has been a bane for Japan and South Korea. The country probably finds it impossible not to throw around whatever little weight it has. It is time the North Ko ean government realised that parading its military might in the form of a controversial space programme will not do the struggling country and its people any good. Instead of rubbing world powers the wrong way, Pyongyang should try to assimilate into the established world order.
North Korea’s declaration to launch what it calls a satellite-carrying rocket has drawn opprobrium across the world. The rogue regime of Kim Jong-Un has been defying UN and western sanctions to go against the grain of civility in its tenuous ties with world powers. Despite a flagging economy, ailing infrastructure and the lack of basic needs for its population, the authoritarian regime has been trying to shore up its military capability by testing nuclear weapons, which are a grave threat to the security of its neighbours — South Korea and Japan.
The proposed launch violates UN sanctions banning Pyongyang from testing ballistic missiles. South Korea’s trepidation at the planned launch projects the concern not only of Seoul but of the entire region, which is generally left fulminating at the capricious behaviour of Kim’s regime.
South Korean president Park Geun-Hye went on the offensive yesterday saying Pyongyang’s move ‘can never be tolerated’. Her words reflect the resentment of Seoul that has been confronting its aggressive northern neighbour by opposing its many moves seen as further damaging ties that are severely frayed. The North’s recent testing of a purported fusion device ruffled many feathers. It was widely believed that Kim’s regime was prevaricating about the nuclear device that is a more potent threat than a conventional nuclear bomb — a fission device.
The United States has been watching with concern as the North plans to launch the rocket sometime between February 8 and 25. Sanctions have failed to discourage the reclusive and irresponsible administration of North Korea from flexing its muscle. It is not surprising that Pyongyang is trying to ratchet up tension on the Korean peninsula with the planned move. It is interesting that the window for the launch has been spread out over several days to keep the world in a frenzied state of anticipation.
While countries like Cuba and Zimbabwe, though not very close to the United States and other western powers, have been seen to eye rapprochement, North Korea has been defying world powers. It is probably in Kim’s interest to keep his country’s population focused on an aggressive foreign policy so that domestic problems are obfuscated from the masses.
Pyongyang’s abysmal human rights record is for all to see. The secretive dynastic rule in the country has been a bane for Japan and South Korea. The country probably finds it impossible not to throw around whatever little weight it has. It is time the North Ko ean government realised that parading its military might in the form of a controversial space programme will not do the struggling country and its people any good. Instead of rubbing world powers the wrong way, Pyongyang should try to assimilate into the established world order.
