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[av_heading heading=’MORE VITAL THAN EVER | The Korean Peninsula’s nuclear crisis’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY EDGARDO J. ANGARA
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Friday, May 5, 2017
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THE THREAT of nuclear confrontation hangs dangerously over the Korean Peninsula between a nuclear-armed North Korea and the smart war weaponry United States.
Unperturbed by the prospect of heavy sanctions, the supreme leader Kim Jong-un has kept the development of a full nuclear arsenal as a central objective of his regime since assuming power in 2011. Starting from February this year, North Korea has been conducting missiles tests, although most have reportedly failed. Experts still say that the hermit country is inching closer towards locally producing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could reach the United States and even some parts of Europe.
North Korea’s nuclear capability appears to be growing as well. The New York Times recently reported that based on a growing body of expert studies and classified intelligence reports, the country now seems to have the capability to produce a nuclear bomb every six or seven weeks. According to satellite images from US-based monitoring group 38 North, North Korea looks to be preparing for another underground nuclear test — which will be the sixth since 2006. The explosions of the last three had already matched those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The Trump administration has used some blunt words in response to North Korea’s recent actions. In February, US Defense Secretary James Mattis warned that North Korea would be met with an “effective and overwhelming” response if it used any nuclear weapon. In March, US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson ruled out direct negotiations with North Korea, saying that the US might be forced to take “preemptive action” if North Korea elevates the threat of their nuclear weapons program to an unacceptable level.
The warning has been backed up by action. An entire armada led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was sent to naval positions within striking distance of North Korea. Last week, the US began setting up in the area a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system — a sophisticated anti-missile defense system meant to protect US soldiers and allies South Korea and Japan, from any North Korean attack.
As both sides point their weapons at each other, millions of lives are at risk. No less than Pope Francis urged the US and North Korea to defuse the tensions and pursue diplomatic avenues, as he emphasized to reporters that any widespread war would destroy “a good part of humanity.” The pontiff also said that a third country like Norway could mediate and called on the United Nations to re-assert its leadership in world diplomacy.
In a phone call with President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged restraint while he tries to mediate the conflict. And while President Trump has lauded President Xi for “trying very, very hard” to end the crisis, the Chinese leader seems unable to restrain the bellicose behavior of the once-obedient dependency North Korea.
As a consequence, the whole of East Asia is on red alert, their peoples sitting on knife’s edge. Even President Duterte expressed deep concern over the tensions, saying at a post-ASEAN summit press conference that “one explosion there that would hit somebody would cause a catastrophe.”
We fervently pray that the efforts of the Pope and President Xi at mediating the crisis will succeed. (angara.ed@gmail.com| Facebook & Twitter: @edangara/PN)
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