As we all know, there are only three major countries capable of launching large-scale ballistic missile attacks on other countries in the world today, namely China, the United States, and Russia. In addition, China, the United States, and Russia are also the only three countries in the world that have trinity nuclear strike forces.
However, it should be noted that some other small and medium-sized countries also have relatively strong missile offensive capabilities in order to protect themselves, the most typical of which is North Korea.
According to foreign media reports, North Korea conducted two consecutive missile launches within a few hours earlier. In addition to a ballistic missile test fired last week, North Korea has conducted three missile tests this year.
According to Japanese media citing the Ministry of Defense of Japan, the three missiles launched by North Korea fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Japan made a deliberate provocation.
In addition, North Korea’s high-level officials also reminded South Korea in their speech that “North Korea’s intercontinental missiles will not be aimed at Seoul.” Obviously, there is only one target for North Korea’s warning, and that is the United States.
But even so, North Korea’s missile launch behavior during this period has still attracted great attention from Japan and South Korea, because North Korea’s missile combat power has reached a very high level.
As early as February 18, North Korea launched a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile into the waters east of the Korean peninsula, which crashed into the sea after flying 900 kilometers.
However, it should be noted that the range of 900 kilometers is the range after the North Korean side deliberately launched it at a high elevation angle. It is generally believed that the real range of the Hwasong-15 missile is about 14,000 kilometers, and it can directly attack the United States from the Korean peninsula.
After launching the missiles on the 20th, North Korea’s official media KCNA also stated that the two missiles launched were tactical nuclear attack weapons.
In the past few years, North Korea has withstood international pressure and developed small-yield nuclear weapons. Coupled with North Korea’s mysterious and unpredictable missile forces, this has greatly enhanced North Korea’s deterrence against the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
In response to North Korea’s missile launch on the 18th, the United States and South Korea conducted a joint military exercise over the Korean Peninsula on the 19th. This time, F-35A and F-15K fighter jets were deployed, and even the US B-1B strategic bomber was dispatched. Such offensive weapons deter North Korea, and North Korea immediately launched missiles again on the 20th to respond to the United States and South Korea.
It can be said that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula has entered a vicious circle.
From an objective point of view, North Korea’s economic development level is far lower than that of South Korea and Japan, and it does not have the ability to conduct a modern arms race with South Korea. Powerful offensive weapons to ensure their own safety.
In fact, intercontinental missiles are nothing more than asymmetric combat power for North Korea, but this asymmetric combat power is what really makes the United States afraid. Relying on the nuclear weapons and missiles in its hands, North Korea has a limited level of economic development. Under the circumstances, the basic balance of power on the peninsula was maintained.
But for the United States, North Korea is also a target that must be targeted.
In fact, North Korea does not have rich natural resources, and its strategic position is not very important. The United States would not have any interest in such a country, but North Korea is both a socialist country and a neighbor of China. This is doomed to the Korean peninsula. An Sheng can’t.
For the United States, maintaining military deterrence against North Korea serves two important purposes.
First, use North Korea’s military threats as an excuse to intimidate and win over South Korea and Japan, and tie them into their own anti-China chariots, so that they will always stand on the same front as themselves and dare not have dissent against themselves.
Second, use North Korea as a springboard to create troubles around China and bring strategic pressure to China.
After all, the Korean Peninsula has been China’s eastern barrier since ancient times. The United States is very aware of this, so it will spare no effort to target North Korea, and its ultimate goal is to deal with China.
However, Ambassador Zhang Jun, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has publicly stated that wars in Northeast Asia are not allowed, and warned that if someone insists on burning the flames of war to the Korean Peninsula, China can only take firm measures to maintain regional peace and stability.
After experiencing the Korean War in the 1950s, I believe that the United States can understand the warnings of Chinese officials.
The crisis on the Korean peninsula has lasted from the 1950s to the present. Although there have been various relaxations in the middle, North Korea and South Korea have confronted each other across the 38th parallel for 70 years, and the hostile policy of the United States towards North Korea and China has continued to this day.
It can be seen that the hegemony and imperialist diplomatic thinking of the United States is the root cause of the long-term confrontation on the Korean peninsula
In recent years, the United States has identified China as its main strategic competitor, and it will not give up its provocations on the Korean Peninsula. But on the whole, with the increasing strength of China and the family of missiles that North Korea has mastered, the United States will not give up on North Korea. The possibility of a major crisis detonating on the peninsula is getting lower and lower.
This also illustrates the fact that for an aggressive country like the United States, only strength and fists can calm him down.
Source: 163
