North Korea declares war. New world war coming?

North Korea promises a "thousand-fold revenge on the US". It is another hard language of Kim Jong-un's regime regarding the West. But how real is the threat of North Korea? Is there a new Korean war to come?
A nuclear attack in the heart of the US. It is a ruling of the regime in North Korea no more than two weeks ago. And now again, it sounds like a threat to the Korean peninsula: "The US should not think it's safe because there is an ocean between them and us." The tension has been rising for a number of months, especially since Donald Trump's arrival In the white house of usa Analysts have feared for a long time that it may no longer be in words, but that there will be actions. The chance of a military confrontation is increasing ever, says China specialist and teacher international relations at VUB Jonathan Holslag at VRT. The harsh language of North Korea vis-à-vis the USA shows, according to Holslag, that the regime is not immediately planning to talk or negotiate with America.

A war with North Korea? This chance is getting bigger

No negotiations

The US has long demanded that North Korea reduce and dismantle its nuclear weapons program. But North Korea itself does not intend to grant it. "As long as we are threatened by the United States, we are not planning to negotiate our core and ballistic program. Pyongyang does not step back in terms of strengthening its nuclear power, "it sounds from North Korea.

North Korea does not stop doing rocket tests in the meanwhile. Hence the UN recently imposed sanctions on the country. China, the most important trading partner in North Korea, also approved these sanctions. "That China also approved the UN resolution is remarkable," says Holslag. "These are unprecedented economic sanctions with a major impact. With that approval, China has used the last ammunition and now the ball is in the camp of North Korea and the US itself. It seems unlikely that positive developments will follow in coming weeks. "

According to Holslag, Beijing gives a very clear signal. "China shows that it has to be done with nuclear provocations and tests with different rocket systems."

Preventive attack on North Korea

What are the possible options? H.R. McMaster, the US security adviser, recently talked about a preventive attack on North Korea. This means that targets on the Korean peninsula will be bombarded. The US does not exclude a preventive war in order to put an end to the North Korean threat of nuclear weapons. "If they have nuclear weapons that could threaten the United States, that is unfortunate in the eyes of the president. So, we must take all possible steps to stop them, including a military option, "said McMaster.

"However, North Korea will undoubtedly respond, presumably by targeting mainly South Korea. Then you risk escalation and possibly a total war, "says Holslag. North Korea had said that it would "ruthlessly respond to every provocation of the US."

Threat to Seoul?

Something that could stop this is that war may also cause the regime in North Korea to collapse, while the country that regime (and the privileges associated with the ruling politicians of the party of Kim Jong-un ) Just want to maintain. Conversely, the West will not just start a war against North Korea. Thus, Seoul, the capital of South Korea with more than 20 million inhabitants, is on rocket and shooting distance from North Korea. The million city would be the first easy target for the Kim Jong-un army. And also Japan and the US itself are in North Korea's sight.
But both the US and South Korea previously stated that "there is a very high probability of a military conflict with North Korea".

"Threatening Threat with Rocket Defense Systems"

According to Holslag, another option is to fully deploy the missile defense systems, thus eliminating the nuclear threat from North Korea.

"This is by far the most dangerous stage in the North Korean crisis since the 1990s. We can not underestimate its consequences, "Holslag said to VRT. "If it fails, we will also feel the consequences. If it really comes to an armed conflict, the United States and Japan will certainly ask for a European effort. There is very much at stake. "