‘North Korea Sees Missile Tests As An Opportunity By Which To Win Concessions’

StratNews Global

Tensions have been raised as North Korea continues to conduct ballistic missile tests. The tests which came after the United States put more sanctions on the DPRK has most people wondering as to how far Kim Jong Un is likely to go and what is likely to be the US’s response. Korea expert Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo who is Professor of International Relations at King's College London and KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance believes that North Korea sees the tests as a “window of opportunity” for talks and win concessions from both South Korea and the Americans. They feel the timing is opportune for them right now as the region is particularly sensitive with Beijing heading into the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea heading into elections in March. On the US’s side, Professor Pacheco believes that the Biden administration will not consider North Korea a priority right now and will possibly sit with a new South Korean president post March to devise a new strategy. As far as other actors are concerned, Professor Pardo believes China is particularly unhappy with the tests given the timing but there is little Beijing can do to rein in North Korea because the border is currently closed right now.

You can catch all our episodes on apple music, Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, Soundcloud, Breaker, stitcher basically whichever platform you prefer to listen to our episodes.

Please click on the follow button and that will ensure that you automatically get informed whenever the episodes get dropped.

You can check our website anchor.fm/stratnews-global & leave your feedback.