Do the United States and its allies bear some responsibility for the unpredictable, erratic and potentially dangerous behavior of North Korea? This editorial from China’s state-run Global Times seeks to distance Beijing from any previous arm-twisting of North Korea, and asserts that America and its allies are driving the Hermit Kingdom to feel a need for missiles and nuclear weapons.
The Global Times editorial says in small part:
Immediately, the DPRK’s nuclear test has drawn condemnation from its rival camps. The United States slammed the nuclear test as “highly provocative,” Japan said it is mulling the imposition of unilateral sanctions, while South Korea vowed to pursue all measures to deter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
On a superficial level, it was Pyongyang that has repeatedly breached U.N. resolutions and used its nuclear program as a weapon to challenge the world community. This was considered an unwise and regrettable policy.
But in fact, the DPRK’s defiance is deeply rooted in its powerful sense of insecurity after years of confrontation with South Korea, Japan and a militarily superior United States.
In the eyes of the DPRK, Washington has spared no effort to contain it, and has time and again flexed its military muscle by holding military exercises around the region with South Korea and Japan, [and many others]. … Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test appears to be another manifestation of a desperate attempt to keep the threat at bay.
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