White Paper: N. Korea Threat Increasing

With the rise to power of Kim Jong Un, North Korea likely will continue to increase its inventory of nuclear, long-range and medium-range missiles and pose a direct threat to South Korea. North Korea also intends to stick with its diplomatic tack of coercing adversaries into reluctantly providing support to its security and economic interests, and shows no inclination to curb its erratic and threatening ways. Such are the conclusions of a 2012 Defense Department report to Congress, the contents of which were released to the public earlier this month. “North Korea fields a large, forward-deployed military that retains the capability to inflict serious damage on the ROK (Republic of Korea), despite significant shortfalls and aging hardware,” the report stated. Citing North Korean attacks in 2010 that killed 46 South Korean sailors, two ROK marines and two civilians, the report also noted the rogue nation’s occasional wont to cross the line of brinksmanship in order to further its political agenda.