Remember how the Democrats and RINOs told us that the U.S. would enter into a nuclear war with North Korea if Donald Trump was elected president? Well, not only did that not happen, and not only did it not even come remotely close to happening during Trump’s time as president, but it turns out the opposite is true.
Under Joe Biden, the situation with North Korea has gotten substantially worse, and North Korea is now talking about unleashing its nuclear weapons on its southern neighbor.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula by threatening to use nuclear weapons against South Korea. According to the North’s state media, Kim vowed to permanently destroy South Korea if provoked. This sharp rhetoric comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that any nuclear attack by the North would lead to the collapse of Kim’s regime, promising a “resolute and overwhelming response” from the South Korean-U.S. alliance.
Kim’s threats are the latest in a series of hostile exchanges between the two Koreas, particularly as the North continues to expand its nuclear capabilities. Recently, North Korea disclosed the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility, raising concerns about its ability to produce more nuclear weapons. This, coupled with continued missile tests, has stoked fears of a potential conflict.
During a visit to a special operations unit, Kim made it clear that North Korea would not hesitate to use “all the offensive forces it possesses, including nuclear weapons” if South Korea were to encroach upon its sovereignty. He added that if such a situation occurred, “the permanent existence of Seoul and the Republic of Korea would be impossible.”
The North Korean leader’s remarks were in direct response to President Yoon’s speech during South Korea’s Armed Forces Day. Yoon, in a show of military strength, unveiled the country’s most powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile and reiterated that any attempt by North Korea to use nuclear weapons would lead to the end of Kim’s government.
In a pointed attack, Kim criticized Yoon, calling him “an abnormal man” and mocking South Korea’s efforts to counter North Korea’s nuclear forces with conventional weapons. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, also chimed in, dismissing South Korea’s Hyunmoo-5 missile and reinforcing North Korea’s belief in its nuclear superiority.
Despite Kim’s rhetoric, many experts believe that North Korea is unlikely to launch a preemptive nuclear strike, given that its military is vastly outmatched by the combined forces of the U.S. and South Korea. In July, the U.S. and South Korea strengthened their defense alliance by integrating South Korea’s conventional forces with U.S. nuclear capabilities, further deterring any potential aggression from the North.
Tensions between the Koreas have been at a high in recent years, with both sides engaging in a cycle of provocations. Communication between the two nations has been completely cut off since 2019, following the collapse of U.S.-North Korea talks aimed at denuclearizing the North. Since then, Kim has called for a rewriting of North Korea’s constitution to formally reject any idea of peaceful reunification and to enshrine the South as its “principal enemy.”
Adding to the ongoing tension, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea has been launching balloons, likely filled with trash, across the border in an apparent attempt to provoke its southern neighbor. In response, South Korea has resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts at the border.
As the situation on the peninsula continues to deteriorate, the risks of further escalation remain ever-present. However, with both sides locked in a standoff, it remains to be seen how long this dangerous game of brinkmanship will continue.
