After the Intercontinental Ballistic Missle (ICBM) test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the US has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This matter has the Americans on edge as a serious new threshold of technology has been reached. Previously, US intelligence agencies claimed that the DPRK would not be capable of testing an ICBM until at least the year 2020. This latest test completely destroys this claim. The US is worried because their intelligence was dead wrong.
Pyongyang said its Hwasong-14 ICBM flew some 933 kilometres in 39 minutes reaching an altitude of 2,802 kilometres, according to the country’s state television.
We’re now faced with a situation where the DPRK is not only capable of developing nuclear warheads but is now capable of delivering them across continents. This means that the mainland US can now be struck with some of the most powerful weapons available on Earth. Previously the US could take solace in the fact that the technology was low enough that no major threat to the US mainland existed. But now, they’re forced to deal with the possibility of large US casualties if they do invade the DPRK.
The red line has been crossed. For the US the point of no return has been reached, it’s too late. The strategy of strategic patience has failed to stop the DPRK from obtaining a significant nuclear capability. Any military actions by the US now will have dire consequences. Invasion of the DPRK is now no longer a real option to take. The US may bluster all they wish about a military action, but it’s simply not feasible anymore. The day the US was attempting to avoid is here now. All the sanctions and threats were intended to stop this day from coming. All of those efforts were a failure.
It has been proven that sanctions do not work. Every effort to punish the DPRK for building the means to defend themselves has failed. Blocking trade, hindering the development of necessary goods for the people of the DPRK has been all for nothing. The suffering the people of the DPRK had to go through by the hands of the US, has proven completely fruitless.
Both Russia and China confirmed their commitment to a denuclearized DPRK. The stance may seem a betrayal of the DPRK’s right to self-defense. But we must keep in mind that both countries have signed on to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). As members of the treaty, they’re not allowed to encourage others to develop nuclear weapon technology. It is almost certain that both Russi and China would prefer it if the DPRK did not have weapons, but that THAAD also is removed. The less destructive power there is on the peninsula the less of a chance there is a totally destructive scenario.
The goal of the treaty is to halt the development of nuclear weapons, with the hopes of abolishing them worldwide. No one actually expects the world to be de-nuclearized under such an international treaty. The world remains piled to the brim with such weapons. Anyone who refuses to develop, or disposes of their weapons is essentially laying themselves vulnerable to such an attack.
Many find the treaty to be wholly self-serving. Those who already have nuclear weapons are allowed to keep them with the promise of not developing anymore. Those who don’t have them are prohibited from developing them. This is tantamount to banning guns from everyone who doesn’t have one. It abolishes the nuclear deterrent from anyone who doesn’t already have it. This leaves many states who are under threat from US imperialism in an extremely vulnerable position. We can see why the DPRK has labelled their nuclear program as “non-negotiable.”
In truth, the NPT is a tool used by the United States to maintain as much global hegemony as possible. This prevents smaller states from developing a capability as to deter US imperialism from assaulting their country. The US would rather have these countries with their hands tied, unable to resist.
DPRK has no moral obligation to the NPT. Their signing on to the agreement was coerced by US imperialism. The DPRK had debilitating sanctions placed upon them for refusing to sign the agreement. This is signing an agreement under duress. The DPRK was threatened with starvation and suffering if they didn’t agree to it. Food aid, medicine, medical technology, and necessary trade were blocked in order to twist the DPRK’s arm into compliance.
The US speaks of a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons and a peaceful relationship with the DPRK. Yet they forced them to sign an agreement they didn’t want to sign. Based on this fact, the DPRK has no obligation to follow that agreement.
The DPRK has every right to build an effective deterrent to US invasion. The US has spent decades maintaining a hostile stance towards them threatening the most inhumane of actions. The DPRK has ever right to defend themselves from US imperialism.
Jason Unruhe is a contributor to PressTV and long time blogger and amateur journalist on YouTube.
