Last week, North Korea delivered another shock to the international community with its release of photographs, through its state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, claiming that it has perfected the process of miniaturising nuclear warheads to be placed on its ballistic missiles. If accurate, such claims would effectively provide the North with short to medium-range capabilities to deliver a nuclear strike aimed at either South Korea or Japan. Pyongyang has long maintained the capability to strike Japan conventionally with its missiles, but these new developments would prove to be a game changer - not only for Tokyo but for the region more broadly. North Korea's somewhat predictable cycle of provocations - underscored by its announcement of miniaturisation, along with its recent nuclear and missile tests - has jolted the United States, South Korea and Japan to look at ways to bolster their deterrent to further aggression from Pyongyang. ...
No comments:
Post a Comment