The Korean Peninsula, a Time Bomb

We take a look at the latest developments in the Korean Peninsula.

Mihai Pelin, 12.04.2013, 13:39

After conducting its first nuclear test in 2006, North Korea agreed to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for economic aid and security assurances. In recent years however, Pyongyang has voiced its intention to restart its nuclear reactor and to resume uranium-enriching activities for military purposes. The announcement comes at a time when North Korea is engaged in a war of statements with Washington and Seoul, threatening to launch ballistic attacks on the US and to invade South Korea. Tension has been building up in the Korean Peninsula for decades, but every sudden surge of tension was followed by a period of quiet. How is the situation any different now? Political commentator Bogdan Chirieac explains:

“It boils down to nuclear weapons. Apparently American experts know for sure that right now North Korea doesn’t have the capability to manufacture nuclear warheads carried by missiles. Therefore the bombs they have been detonating underground are too big to be carried by missiles. Believe it or not, North Korea is now part of the elite club of nuclear-powered countries. But Pyongyang signing the non-proliferation treaty has always been out of the question. They do have nuclear-powered missiles, they have tested one recently, when missiles were deployed in the Sea of Japan. So, in other words, the United States and South Korea say North Korea’s display of nuclear prowess is no more than just a threat, and we have seen such threats before”.

The crisis in the Korean Peninsula has also come to the attention of European institutions, which might impose fresh sanctions against North Korea. Our Brussels correspondent Luminita Apostol has the details.

“The EU might enforce new sanctions on North Korea if necessary. For the time being this is only possible course of action, as member states are discussing it as an option. A high-ranking European official, who wanted to remain anonymous, has said that Europe might adopt new sanctions if Pyongyang decides to launch a new missile or carry out another nuclear test. The last set of sanctions was imposed on February 18, shortly after North Korea’s latest nuclear test. Under the new sanctions, EU states are banned from importing from or exporting to North Korea key components for ballistic missiles, and also from trading gold or precious metals with that country. Moreover, 26 persons are subject to a travel ban on EU territory, while the number of businesses targeted by asset freeze on EU soil has now been increased to 33. The EU is currently considering the idea of imposing sanctions on the North Korean Foreign Trade Bank. The same EU official however said that the Member States are also bearing in mind the negative consequences these sanctions might have on European embassies in North Korea and on the North Korean people”.

Europe is relying on China and Russia to persuade North Korea to resume peace negotiations. Beijing has already taken a first step in this direction, saying it doesn’t want the Korean Peninsula to slip into chaos. After Pyongyang warned all foreign nationals in South Korea to leave the country, as the risk of war breaking in the area is high, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has announced his country will oppose any party’s action that would escalate tension and impair stability on the Korean Peninsula. In turn, Moscow has said that the G8 countries (namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia) reject what they’ve called North Korea’s “provocative and bellicose line of conduct”, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic resolution to crisis in North-eastern Asia. On the other hand, the amount of money currently being invested in military hardware is staggering. Bogdan Chirieac again:

“Last year North Korea invested close to 9 billion dollars in its arms industry, while South Korea spent 35 billion dollars. There is of course a huge difference between the two country’s GDP, as the North is currently famine-struck. Remember that last time Kim Jong-il agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency to install CCTV cameras in North Korean nuclear reactors in exchange for rice and food. It is a well-know fact that people in North Korea live on roots and tree bark. People live in dire poverty, they are terrorized and tortured in gigantic political prisons, as satellite images have confirmed. And still the international community does too little to rid the country of this political and military aberration”.

Bogdan Chirieac believes a possible solution to the current crisis might emerge from negotiations between the US and China.