As the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un triumphantly displays his military might with harsh rhetoric and failed missile launches, the world watched — trapped on the edge of emotion between laughter and concern with the uncertainty. Meanwhile, national leaders convened to discuss the next steps.
According the State Department, on April 25th United States Representative for North Korean Policy, Joseph Yun met with national leaders in Tokyo. In attendance, Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs as well as Kim Hong-kyuen, South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs.
In a post-meeting interview with the Korea Times, Kim stated that they agreed to take “unbearably strong punitive action” if the Supreme Leader launches a “new provocation” against our allies. However, he went on to say that “it is inappropriate to talk about the details”.
He did, however, add that this included stronger, anti-North responses within the existing scope of the U.N. Security Council resolution, increased country-level sanctions and continued international diplomatic pressures.
Much of the meeting was dedicated to securing the “constructive role” of China, North Korea’s only ally, in an effort to curb nuclear ambitions.
Japan’s representative went on to tell the Korea Times that China plays the most vital role in the denuclearization of the country.
A day earlier, President Trump discussed this vital role with Chinese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Xi Jinping.
These meetings were followed by a rare White House Senate briefing on April 26th. During this meeting, several high-ranking military, state and intelligence officials briefed the senate on the increasing nuclear capabilities in the North.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in a joint statement.
“Past efforts have failed to halt North Korea’s unlawful weapons programs and nuclear and ballistic missile tests. With each provocation, North Korea jeopardizes stability in Northeast Asia and poses a growing threat to our allies and the U.S. homeland,” the statement read.
Despite the failed launches, with undying persistence of their leader, U.S. officials expect the North will soon meet its objective of developing a long-range missile capable of hitting the U.S. They continue to discuss options.
Such heightened discussion doesn’t come without action. Over the past two weeks, President Trump ordered several military vessels, including an air craft carrier, to the region. With this increased military presence, the U.S. is poised for action should Pyongyang act upon its threats, provoking response.
Earlier that week, in another show a might, North Korea conducted large scale live-ammunition artillery drills as the Supreme Leader watched proudly from a distance. They are determined to be ready for what they see as an imminent and unprevoked attack from the “evil” U.S. and South Korea.
North Korea has a rich history of propaganda and indoctrination going back at least 3 generations, during which time children have been raised to hate the U.S., see their country as mighty and their leaders as infallible.
They spend long school hours listening to military leaders telling them of the evils of those who seek to destroy them and the importance of defending their country against outside influence. They are taught that they are nothing, and owe their very lives to the Kims, the ruling dynasty of the last 3 generations of which Kim Jong Un is the current, reigning leader.
Children, around the age of 10, are forced to join a group called the Children’s Union, where they swear to always think and act according to the teachings of their leaders.
Joining the group is seen as the highest privilege with the top students being permitted to join first, then the average, then everyone else. This group leads to the Youth league and later the various adult Unions.
By the time they reach adulthood, they don’t ask questions. They celebrate the constant show of strength and force by their leaders against the outside world that they believe wants to destroy them. Those few who choose not to uphold the values of the people are sent away to die in labor camps.
Meanwhile, China, in a continued effort to play peace keeper as it in many ways props up the Kim regime, opposes the increased show of military force by the U.S. and its allies and seeks to maintain a “strategic balance” in region. Whether or not the balance can be maintained or China’s action will come too late, we have yet to see.
~ Conservative Zone
