WP "Biden Administration Must Prepare for North Korean Provocations Early in Term"

President Joe Biden of the United States [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Washington Post (WP) in the United States argued on the 23rd (local time) in an editorial titled "Kim Jong-un likes to provoke new U.S. presidents. Biden's team must be prepared" that the Joe Biden administration should prepare for the possibility of North Korean provocations early in its term.

WP stated that the regime of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, like his father, has a history of welcoming new U.S. presidents with nuclear warhead or long-range missile test launches. As a result, the Obama administration saw relations severely freeze, Donald Trump's response was a threat of war, and subsequent summits failed, WP pointed out.

WP warned that Kurt Campbell, appointed as the White House National Security Council (NSC) Asia coordinator, said at a seminar last month that a swift decision must be made on what to do to prevent North Korean provocations, stating "What you do is the issue." It also noted that, as Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken revealed at the Senate hearing, North Korea has steadily increased its arsenal of nuclear warheads and missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), adding "That does not seem likely to change anytime soon."

WP reminded that "the U.S. military released a report last year stating North Korea possesses 20 to 60 nuclear weapons and can produce more than six annually," pointing out that former President Trump's flashy but crude attempts over the past three years to engage with Chairman Kim prevented nuclear or ICBM test launches but did not stop the increase in warhead stockpiles.

WP said that Blinken stated the new administration will review the overall approach and policy toward North Korea and examine what options the U.S. has, but noted that the long-term review period during the Obama administration was interrupted by provocative actions from the North Korean regime.

WP concluded, "There will probably be no way to avoid Chairman Kim's dazzling missile launches or other shows of force in the coming weeks," adding, "If there is, Biden's team will likely need to think of it quickly."