China over pyongyang, north korea’s capital, in

China calls him a “ hermit neighbour” while America uses the insult of “ Rocket Man on a suicide mission”. And the rest of the world must surely agree that Kim Jong Un is an oppressive warmonger on a path to destruction; a dictator and direct descendent of tyrannical late father, Kim Jong II and equally feared grandfather Kim II Sung. Wondering how the conflict between North Korea and just about every other country on the map first began? Let’s put the situation into historical context. Still a major player after the Second World War, the Soviet Union rolled its tanks into North Korea and strategically put Kim II Sung in power. They supported him with a heavy military presence and although nothing was ever formalised, the leadership succession since has gone through Kim Sung II’s bloodline.

Few of us are aware of Russia’s hand in the making of this dynasty, and President Putin has not been very vocal in revealing his country’s part in the problem. And more recently, on September the 3rd 2017, Russian planes flew over Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, in an act of defiance against the US and South Korean military alliances, further demonstrating their continued support of Kim Jong Un today. Yet Putin still attempts to influence the west’s plans to ease the pressure resulting from North Korea’s flippancy and be seen to be a leading expert on the problem. He claims to believe sanctions on Kim Jong Un to be useless and advises America, Japan and China to carefully consider any repercussions to hit back at North Korea. Russia’s President Putin was reported to have warned the escalating crisis between North Korea and the west to be “ a planetary catastrophe”, with him seemingly to be genuinely worried about a confrontation.

However, we are not so easily fooled. The Guardian Newspaper, September 5th 2017, quotes him for once choosing words, and not weapons, when he advised us that there is no other way to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, save that of peaceful dialogue. Who can’t see the irony of us listening to a man who has historically moved troops over boarders of countries like Georgia in 2008, claiming land and killing thousands in the process? And now he wants us to sit round a table and talk to an insane dictator. Should Kim Jong Un be the one to call checkmate in such a strategic game of life and death? Or will it be the Chinese who make the next move? But if the Chinese won’t do anything, and the Japanese feel justifiably concerned about being in the firing line, then what could, and should, be done to defuse the situation? South Korea, Kim Jong Un’s seemingly unconcerned neighbours, barely took notice of the blast from a recent hydrogen bomb explosion in their ocean front. Lara Pierce, editor of Huffpost Australia, and global social media blogger, pointed out “ To South Korean’s, North is neither an immediate nor physical threat . .

. it remains a political mirage.” But despite being only 56km from the northern border, no one seems to have understood the enormity of this being a short distance in the grand scheme of things. Pierce’s metaphorical image suggests the dangerous landscape moving further away, but in reality, the danger is becoming closer and clearer. To us, South Korea is pathetic and should open its eyes to the reality of death, becoming an integral part of a pact with Japan and China – an Eastern Asian trio of dominance in the region. If they got their act together then it would take out a major threat against the west.

But what is it about the relationship between these three countries which is preventing this from happening? Still bearing grudges against each other from betrayal and dishonesty dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, it appears that forgiveness and trust is a long way off. Numerous attempts by Japan to conquer China over the ages have not been forgotten, with South Korea and China’s relations soured when China tried to invade them during the 1950-53 Korean War. Although seemingly able to trade today with no obvious conflict, not one of them appears to accept another at face value without dwelling on the past. It’s no wonder they have failed to present a united front and support economic sanctions against North Korea. A few months of reduced rations being exported from countries in close proximity might send the message to deranged dictator that food will be in short supply should there be no decrease in aggressive posturing by Pynogyang. But aggression seems to be the North’s rock. After three nuclear hydrogen bomb tests caused global outrage, the United Nations Security Council agreed unanimously to impose a tough regime against Kim Jong Un. About time too.

US Ambassador, Nikki Haley, reinforced on the 11th of September 2017, that “ the world will never accept a nuclear armed North Korea”. Even though full implementation would result in an end to the exchange of international currency, Kim Jong Un did not give the impression of quaking in his boots. Faced with reduced access to fuel by a third, and an end to experimentation on the banned ballistic missile, the North Korean dictator simply laughed and claimed “ These sanctions and pressure will only accelerate our nuclear programme”. Food shortages and changes to the job market for the ordinary North Korean citizens don’t seem to be a priority to their leader. So does a leader who cares little for his country deserve to stay in post? The BBC website reported on September the 14th, 2017, that South Korea is actually making plans to assassinate Kim Jong Un. But Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea, tells us they were in fact actively elected to “ engage with North Korea” and “ establish a peace programme” instead. However, as the world watches, South Korea appear to be a real threat to assassinate Kim Jong Un and have apparently mobilised a Special Forces unit to execute this once the commanded is given.

This turnaround demon straights a more aggressive and determined attempt to wipe North Korea off the face of the earth. So much for Donald Trump’s “ fire and fury” stance. He may enjoy playing to the camera’s but he has done nothing to stop the military campaigns of North Korea. In contrast, South Korea look like they are going to step in to make sure a seventh nuclear test never takes place. According to the Guardian newspaper, September 4th 2017, South Korea has even gone as far as to simulate an attack on North Korea. With live fire drills and bolstered man power through US missile defence systems, most dictators would back down. But not so Kim Jong Un. On the 28th of November 2017, North Korea’s dictator became more belligerent and had the nerve to fire a ballistic missile over Japan once again.

According to the Independent Newspaper, it was yet another warning of their attempt to “ sink the country into the sea” if it so wanted. One positive to come out of this act of aggression is that South Korea and America have become closer. US authorities are working with South Korean military chiefs to analyse its trajectory and discus further action. But the opinion of world powers is split Russia called Trump’s response “ aggressive” and the UN Security council “ unanimously condemned the missile test”. Japans Prime Minister is furious and threatens “ to never tolerate such provocative action”