The New Year’s Day speech by North Korea leader Kim Jong Un hinting to test thefirst intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit parts of United Stateshas caused some fear and panic around the world.
In his response to the threat, president elect of United States of America Donald Trump tweeted “North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen!” It is unclear how America’s to-be 1st gentleman will make this happen.
Since the Korean War ended in 1953, the US has maintained a strong military presence in South Korea and currently has over 28,000 soldiers on the border of that countrybut the country pays “peanuts” in return. Trump intimated on his campaign train to renegotiate the security deals with allies. The big question is, will America lose its global hegemonic status under business mogul’s presidency?Again, is America no more interested in being the‘world police’ because of the cost and security threats it comes with it?
Who Should Act?
There have been several UN resolutions calling for an end to North Korea nuclear and missile tests but the impoverished Asian country has not heeded. North Korea Since 2003 has refrainedto be a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weaponsleading to UN sanctions since 2006.
China-a close ally of North Korea has the tendency to whip the country to line economically but with recent unfortunate comments by president elect on the 2nd largest economy in the world, will it act?
In a follow up tweet, Trump wrote “China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but won’t help with North Korea. Nice!”
As it stands, trade deficit between US and China is about US$ 500billion whiles America’sindebtedness to same is around US$1.7 trillion. There is no doubt China is a strong economic force for US to reckon with.
Indeed, possession of nuclear weapons is a threat to international peace and security and actions by global powers and inter-governmental organizations will safeguard world peace.
By: Amoah-Darkwah Emmanuel