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N. Korea`s nuke test seen as strategy to exploit gap between U.S., China

N. Korea`s nuke test seen as strategy to exploit gap between U.S., China

Posted January. 19, 2016 07:31,   

Updated January. 19, 2016 13:51

한국어

After North Korea’s surprise fourth nuclear test, analysts have called the young North Korean leader "Kim Jong Un, the unpredictable.” Analysts said Kim, who was sworn in as "the supreme leader" at a young age, chose to conduct a reckless nuclear test due to his childish leadership, but he devised a "‘My Way Tactic," which exploits the gap among the U.S. that is indifferent about the North’s nuclear weapons development, China that wants status quo, and South Korea that has failed to find a viable solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis. The analysts advise that South Korea should cope with Kim Jong Un in a more strategic direction.

“Kim Jong Un might have judged that while China would express anger and condemn North Korea for the North’s nuclear tests, there would be no severe sanctions to jeopardize his post,” said Chun Young-woo, former presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security.

Kim emphasized "the principle of self-defense and strength first" at his New Year’s speech, and this could be interpreted as his move to prepare Pyongyang for the possibility of Beijing’s participation in sanctions against Pyongyang.

“We conducted a survey by contacting more than 10 people close to Kim Jong Un, who was picked as successor of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2011,” Professor Nam Seong-woo of Korea University said. “Our conclusion was that Kim Jong Un is smarter than we thought he would be. He is fast in judging situations, and has capability to catch key issues in situations.”



zeitung@donga.com