What would you do about North Korea if you were in the White House, Downing Street or the Japanese Prime Minister?
This renegade state has this week fired a missile over the country of Japan and they have recently demonstrated the capability to strike at US soil. We are not dealing with an ordinary state here – rather like ISIS, it is impossible to reason with them. The hatred of Americans and Japanese is palpable and one way the corrupt regime remains in power is to brainwash the population into believing that the USA and/or Japan is on the brink of invading them.
But if it were your call what would you do? Please don’t say you would rely solely on diplomatic efforts, because that is not possible with this regime.
There is much wisdom in that old Latin phrase: Si vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace prepare for war. Nobody wanted war in the 1930’s, but allowing Hitler to grow too strong meant that the conflict when it came was far greater than it might have been.
I want peace, so I strongly support our armed forces receiving greater investment. I strongly support NATO because I want peace with Russia and the only language Putin understands is strength. I want peace in the Korean Peninsula so I am prepared to support the right kind of targeted, carefully planned military strike to put this crazy despot back in his box, before he fires a nuclear missile at Japan or the USA, or ignites WW3. Of course it would be preferable if any future action could be backed by a UN Security Council resolution but the chances of China (and probably Russia) supporting such a motion are slim indeed.
China has a significant role to play in defusing this situation, but wan only guess at their long term geo-political aspirations for the Korean peninsula.
It would be a win/win if any action we take could trigger an uprising by the down-trodden North Korean people and to see them enjoying the same freedom and economic prosperity as those in South Korea. The only thing that separates them is politics.
Doing nothing is not an option. So we must act, but not over-react. Whatever action is taken, must be proportionate and carefully thought through. That is where the UK has such a vital role – to stay close to the team in the White House and temper any over-reaction.