"Nuclear War Tipping Point"... North Korea Riding the 'New Cold War,' What's Behind It?

Raising Anti-American Sentiment While Voicing Support for Russia
North Korea: "If Provocations Continue, It Will Lead to America's End"
"Blaming External Parties for Nuclear Development and Claiming Legitimacy"

North Korea is pursuing a foreign strategy that emphasizes the 'new Cold War structure.' It is analyzed as an attempt by the internationally isolated North Korea to gain support from allies by aligning with the confrontation structure between South Korea, the US, and Japan versus North Korea, China, and Russia.

On the 26th, the US Research Institute of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a research report released through the Korean Central News Agency, "The military-political situation on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas resembles the eve of the Korean War in the 1950s due to the delusional anti-Republic military confrontation acts and rhetorical threat provocations by the United States and the South Korean puppet forces." This compares the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula to the time of the Korean War.

On the occasion of the June 25 Anti-American Struggle Day, a multiple resolution meeting attended by Youth League officials and young students was held on the 22nd at the Pyongyang Youth Park Outdoor Theater, according to Korean Central TV on the 23rd.

The institute threatened, "Due to the US's belligerent provocations, the already unstable military tension level on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia is approaching the threshold of nuclear war outbreak." It continued, "A strong and powerful self-defensive nuclear deterrent is the only guarantee that thoroughly ensures the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula, reliably protects regional peace and stability, and prevents the recurrence of war." This is interpreted as repeating existing claims that blame the US and South Korea for escalating tensions and justify strengthening national defense.

North Korea raised anti-US sentiment to the fullest by stating in the Rodong Sinmun the day before, "If a 'second Korean War' is provoked to the end, it will lead to the end of the United States itself." At the same time, it openly voiced support for Russia, whose position has become difficult due to the armed rebellion by the mercenary company Wagner Group. Im Chon-il, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, met with Alexander Matsegora, Russian Ambassador to North Korea, the day before and said, "I have no doubt that the armed rebellion incident that occurred in Russia this time will be smoothly suppressed in accordance with the people's aspirations and will."

Accumulating Justification through the 'New Cold War'... "Nuclear Development is a Legitimate Response"

North Korea launched the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17' under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong-un in March. [Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has been actively utilizing the confrontation structure between South Korea, the US, and Japan versus North Korea, China, and Russia in its foreign strategy since the beginning of this year. This intensified after Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, directly mentioned the 'new Cold War structure' as his perception of the international situation in his report at the Party plenary meeting at the end of last year. At that time, Kim criticized the security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan as an 'Asian NATO.' Later, in January this year, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued a statement supporting Russia, isolated in the international community due to the prolonged Ukraine war, saying, "We will stand in the same trench with the Russian army and people."

Moon Sung-mook, Director of the Unification Strategy Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, diagnosed, "Basically, the surface intention is to ride on the anti-Western alliance to gain support," adding, "There is also an aspect of accumulating justification by shifting the legitimacy and responsibility for North Korea's nuclear and missile development to external factors."

In fact, North Korea's blatant attitude is producing clear effects. Although North Korea launched more than 70 ballistic missiles, including eight intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last year, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed to pass additional sanctions against North Korea. This year, after firing three ICBMs and attempting to launch a military reconnaissance satellite on the 31st of last month, even a chairman's statement with a lower level than a sanctions resolution was not issued. This is because China and Russia, as UNSC members, have been acting as North Korea's 'backers' and frequently using their veto power.

Director Moon pointed out North Korea's public opinion manipulation, recalling the THAAD rumors and mad cow disease incidents. He said, "The new Cold War structure is true, but the security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan stems from North Korea's nuclear threat," adding, "However, North Korea continues to inject fake news as if external threats precede and it is responding legitimately." He further predicted, "North Korea will not let go of provocations this year either," and "It is expected to hold a large-scale military parade next month to commemorate Victory Day and try to change the subdued atmosphere caused by the reconnaissance satellite failure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.