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
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

DPRK's new ICBM program wrecked US isolation strategy & potential ties

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: 19fortyfive
  • 28 Nov 2022 14:19
4 Min Read

Washington failed to isolate the DPRK, and Pyongyang is now becoming a major nuclear power.

  • x
  • This photograph distributed by North Korea’s government shows what it says was a test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in March. Photograph: AP
    This photograph distributed by North Korea’s government shows a test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in March. (AP)

"We no longer have that luxury," wrote news website19fortyfive, referring to Washington's ability to continually support South Korea military while getting a good night's sleep because the DPRK wouldn't be able to strike back. 

For over 30 years, the United States has worked tirelessly to make the Democratic People's Republic of Korea an international pariah state - an integral component of their isolation strategies was the exerted pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its ongoing nuclear weapons program - however, what was more important was getting the country to drop its ballistic missile program. The US has failed in both. 

Last week, the military in Seoul reported that DPRK fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile that may have been able to reach the US mainland. Steadily, the DPRK is becoming a major nuclear weapons power with a capable missile delivery system, and in two ways, Pyongyang's latest intercontinental ballistic missile test is a game-changer. 

The first way is the fact that Pyongyang was able to develop the ICBM within its record-breaking specifications just comes to show the futility of US attempts at isolating the country. Washington has dug its own grave in developing any sort of positive bilateral relations with the DPRK, which is becoming a world-class nuclear power.

The second is that the DPRK's ICBMs change the deterrence game with Washington, altering the risk-benefit calculation of the US' deterrence commitments to South Korea. The US and its allies would have to think twice about an attack on Pyongyang. 

Related News

DPRK slams 'Israel' as 'cancer-like entity' for Middle East peace

DPRK's Kim vows to 'unconditionally support' Russia in Ukraine war

Read more: DPRK leader's sister slams S. Korean President as 'faithful dog' of US

According to the 19fortyfive, the US' strategy will need to change. In the first place, there will need to be a comprehensive dialogue with the DPRK to normalize diplomatic relations. Normalization must include a peace treaty that would put an end to the constant state of war on the Korean Peninsula. The ordeal must be capped with the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Washington, in addition, should also alter its security relationship with South Korea. South Korea has taken military aid from Washington since the Cold War. A potential war between the north and the south is more than a simple aggression between two rival states, as the scale of such an event would go under the umbrella of a war between the East and West.

Very interestingly, today, South Korea's strategic importance to the US has declined. While the US in previous years felt more than comfortable offering military aid and guarantees to the South Korean army, the premise that plan was built on is that the DPRK would not be able to strike back the US homeland. With the clock ticking and incremental progress that Pyongyang has been making, that situation has changed entirely. 

"We no longer have that luxury," wrote the daily. 

The military alliance with South Korea, to reduce impending risks, must be eliminated slowly and steadily. That alliance has expired: The US made the alliance in the 1950s when the country suffered from war and poverty; however, today, the country is economically capable of standing on its own: "Seoul’s continuing military dependence on the United States has been a policy choice to save money. It is not even remotely a policy necessity.

"The imminent prospect of North Korea having a nuclear arsenal in the form of warheads on ICBMs requires a drastic, immediate policy transformation."

  • Pyongyang
  • DPRK
  • Ballistic missiles
  • North Korea
  • ICBM

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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