Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

DPRK honing ICBMs capable of reaching US: Ex-intel officer

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Sep 2023 10:39
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

The American intelligence officer worked for decades in the Korean Peninsula and was tasked with implementing Washington's policy to subdue the DPRK and ensure a more US-friendly region.

  • x
  • Exert more pressure, sanctions on DPRK: Ex-US Intelligence officer
    Citizens of the DPRK protest US policies against their country and confirm their support to their government in repelling Washington's hostility in Pyongyang, DPRK, on August 9, 2017 (AFP)

Arriving at the Korean Peninsula decades ago as a US military intelligence officer, Syd Seiler has had hands-on experience dealing with events that led to the rise of the nuclear conflict between the DPRK and South Korea fueled by the United States and its regional allies, including Japan.

With over 40 years of experience, Seiler has engaged in directing strategic assessments, formulating national policy, and advising military commanders and the political leadership in South Korea, in addition to secretly negotiating with senior officials from the DPRK and surrounding nations such as China.

In his retirement message, Seiler said he believes that the US-led international community must continue to exert pressure and adopt sanctions against Pyongyang and should not accept the fact that the East Asian country has become a nuclear power, the former spy told AP.

Read more: Pax Americana industry, nuclear 'madmen', and the umbrella illusion

“That’s a failure of deterrence?” he asked, rhetorically. “That’s nonsense. We’re deterring an attack.”

Seiler said DPRK's actions and statements are not random but follow a strategic and rhythmic approach. Pyongyang uses a combination of military exercises, missile tests, and threats of launching a “deluge of fire” on South Korea.

This tactic, according to Seiler, is seen as a means to postulate its position in the region and achieve its objectives, which include asserting its sovereignty, deterring potential adversaries and threats, or enhancing its position in negotiations.

Related News

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

Russia slams US-Denmark military pact as threat to its security

However, Seiler claimed that Pyongyang's fear is only focused on outside threats, rather also from within.

Decades-long sanctions and embargo against the country have left it suffering from a number of humanitarian issues, including a shortage of food and medical supplies.

The former intelligence service member said he believes that this seige would result in what could mount to an "internal uprising" against the DPRK's ruling party, hinting that this is a real objective of the strategy pursued by the US; an artificial and Western orchestrated economic challenge and commodity scarcity, which would portray Pyongyang in front of the country's citizens as responsible for the all domestic problems.

Read more: DPRK warns US of nuclear deterrence if it continues 'hostile policy'

Despite claiming that the DPRK's "main fear" today comes from "internal threats", Seiler warned that the country has bolstered its capabilities to produce missiles capable of reaching the "protector of South Korea"; the United States. In his statement, the ex-spy indicated that the DPRK's power has evolved beyond deterring regional hostile countries and has become capable of reaching the superpower's mainland.

Pyongyang was "clearly developing capabilities that would enhance its position vis-à-vis South Korea. And so going forward, this is where the room for concern is."

The United States recently escalated its military presence in the East Asia region and boosted its security ties with Japan and South Korea, most notably regarding nuclear cooperation. Pyongyang described the emerging bloc as a "NATO-style nuclear alliance." This view was also shared by China, as it is the main target of the US-led hypermilitarized group.

In July, the US deployed its second nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) submarine in South Korea. The move came shortly after the three allies agreed to unite a nuclear response in case of a war with the DPRK.

Several global powers, including China and Russia, have expressed serious concerns about the United States' activities in the region. Both nations have issued warnings, emphasizing that Washington's aggressive militarization strategy in the South China Sea poses a significant threat to regional stability and increases the risk of a potential nuclear conflict.

  • United States
  • East Asia
  • Japan
  • DPRK
  • South China Sea
  • nuclear weapons
  • South Korea

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS