“It’s not a large-scale provocation, but Korea is responding.”
“Efforts to contribute to the preferred U.S. presidential candidate”
“Expecting synergy between Korea-China-Japan and Korea-US-Japan relations”
Kim Seong-han, former director of the National Security Office, predicted that North Korea is likely to continue localized provocations this year, including on the five islands in the West Sea.
Former Director Kim appeared on the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) podcast program ‘Impossible State’ on the 13th (local time) and said, “When I was working at the Yongsan Presidential Office, I met with the Minister of National Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Together, we created several scenarios for North Korean provocations,” he said.
Former Director Kim said, “I cannot tell you the number of specific scenarios, but they include cases where North Korea suddenly absorbs an island in the West Sea, and cases where it conducts various launch tests such as ballistic missiles or cruise missiles.” “This is not a large-scale provocation, but South Korea, not the United States, will respond in accordance with peacetime operational control,” he explained.
He added, “This type of scenario can be considered a type of localized provocation that could be carried out by North Korea this year.”
It was analyzed that behind North Korea’s heightened provocations and threats of war, which have already been ongoing since the end of last year, was the intention to cause a rift in the ROK-US alliance and contribute to a change in the US regime.
Former Director Kim said, “I think North Korea will threaten the United States and make the South Korean people suspicious of the fact that they are being provided with a nuclear umbrella from the United States,” adding, “North Korea also has a preferred U.S. presidential candidate.”
Based on his personal opinion, he said, “North Korea is expected to show that the Joe Biden administration has completely failed in its North Korean policy and make efforts to contribute to helping its preferred candidate win the election.” “It will happen,” he predicted.
He said, “The United States’ strategic patience has not been effective, so we need to think of a new strategy to counter North Korea’s plans.”
Meanwhile, former Director Kim believed that the Yoon Seok-yeol government could create a synergy effect by establishing a Korea-China-Japan alliance along with the Korea-US-Japan alliance.
Former Director Kim said, “Another strategic thing on President Yoon Seok-yeol’s mind is the Korea-China-Japan summit,” and predicted that the trilateral summit will take place sometime this year.
He said, “We will have two tripartite relationships: Korea-US-Japan and Korea-China-Japan. These two tripartite relationships will not be in conflict with each other and will be able to create a synergy effect that contributes to peace and prosperity not only in Northeast Asia but also in the Pacific region.” “That is our vision,” he said.
[워싱턴=뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.