Description: The North Korean leader has urged the country’s nuclear department to ramp up development of more nuclear weapons as a response to the joint US – South Korea military drills, called Ulchi Freedom Shield. According to the North Korean leader, the joint military drills by South Korea and the US included a nuclear element and posed a risk to North Korea’s national security and territorial sovereignty. Kim Jong Un further stated that constant military drills by South Korea and the US significantly raise the concern over potential direct confrontation and North Korea had to increase its deterrent capabilities in the upcoming period. North Korea has so far denounced any international calls and attempts to denuclearize and has significantly increased enrichment with suspected 50 nuclear warheads already being operational.
Impact: South Korea’s attempts of diplomatic rapprochement with its adversary have been recently renounced by North Korea, as both countries remain on a confrontational path. The statements from the North Korean leader follow a consistent pattern of aggressive responsiveness to South Korea’s military alliance with the US and represent a show of force and regional military posturing without the present substance of real regional destabilization. Bilateral tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high, as the attempts from the new South Korean administration for reconciliation have been categorically rejected by the North Korean regime. The dispute also maintains a low profile on the US’ foreign policy agenda, when in contrast to his first term, Trump is currently choosing not to directly address the dispute.