U.S. suggests conflict between South Korea and DPRK in coming months - NYT
The U.S. has suggested the possibility of conflict between the DPRK and South Korea (Photo: GettyImages)
The United States has acknowledged the possibility that North Korea may soon engage in military actions against South Korea. This is happening against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's openly hostile policy towards its southern neighbors, according to The New York Times.
According to U.S. officials, the aggressive rhetoric of the North Korean leader regarding South Korea is part of a provocation scheme. However, considering the escalation of assertive statements, they should be taken seriously.
U.S. officials specify that they do not see an "imminent risk of a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula." However, they note that Pyongyang could still carry out strikes to avoid rapid escalation.
As an example, the incident of the shelling of the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in 2010 was mentioned when North Korea and South Korea exchanged artillery fire. Several civilians and military personnel from both sides were killed as a result, but ultimately, the shelling was stopped.
According to U.S. officials, Kim's more aggressive stance became apparent after a series of launches of cruise missiles, the testing of new weaponry, and the abandonment of the idea of peaceful reunification with South Korea. Additionally, the dictator's "inspiration" from deepening cooperation with Russia is noted.
At the same time, in the U.S., there are currently no signs that North Korea is preparing for a large-scale war. Notably, this view is supported by the decision to transfer artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles to Russia.
One senior U.S. official noted that if the North Korean leader were planning a large-scale military operation, he would be accumulating reserves of missiles and artillery shells.
North Korea's aggressive policy toward South Korea
In recent weeks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made a series of statements indicating his desire and readiness to start a war with the South. However, as reported by the media, Pyongyang has a significant reason not to ignite the conflict, as the pace of North Korea's economic growth has reached its highest level in almost a decade due to arms sales to Russia.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea announced new sanctions against individuals and organizations associated with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
We also reported that North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, causing concern in Japan.
