The Israel-Iran showdown: A wake-up call for Korea
Ma Young-sam
The fierce showdown between Israel and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program is finally over. Tensions once mounted after U.S. stealth B-2 bombers dropped powerful GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Now, the world is watching and asking: Could this strike affect the way South Korea handles North Korea’s nuclear threat?
There are key differences between Iran and North Korea. Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons yet. But North Korea is believed to have approximately 50 nuclear bombs. On top of that, North Korea has enough materials to build 40 more. According to the North, their missiles can reach anywhere on the U.S. mainland.
Back in 1994, the U.S. is known to have considered bombing North Korea’s nuclear sites — but backed off. Since then, things have only gotten more complicated. A military option now would be far more dangerous.
The Israel-Iran conflict is a warning to South Korea. North Korea’s nuclear weapons are not just a distant problem — they are our daily reality. But strangely, many Koreans see it as someone else’s fight.
The harsh truth about nuclear survival
The Israel-Iran conflict wasn’t just another war. It was a fight for survival. Iran was determined to go nuclear, no matter the cost. Israel was equally determined to stop them, no matter the sacrifice. Both nations saw this as life-or-death. The war sent a clear message: Nuclear weapons are not just about power. They’re about national survival — and pride.
Iran wants nukes because it feels cornered. It’s surrounded by Sunni Muslim Arabs and under constant threat from Israel. For many Iranians, nuclear weapons are their only real security — and a symbol of past greatness, dating back 2,500 years to the Persian Empire. That dream drives them forward, no matter what.
Since the mid-1990s, Iran’s nuclear work has drawn harsh sanctions. Inflation exploded. Basic goods became unaffordable. Since the U.S. pulled out of the nuclear deal in 2018, economic sanctions were reimposed and prices soared. During this period, the price of a carton of 30 eggs jumped by 650 percent. Today, it costs 600,000 rials by Iranian currency — still less than a U.S. dollar. But Iran never gave up. Why? Because it believes nuclear weapons will give it real power and global respect.
Israel’s rule: never again
Israel’s security mindset is shaped by its painful history. After being driven from their homeland in AD 70, Jews wandered for nearly 2,000 years, facing constant persecution. Then came the Holocaust — 6 million Jews were murdered. That trauma still runs deep in Israeli society.
So Israel draws a hard line: Never let our enemies get nukes. While it stays silent about its own nuclear weapons, Israel has acted again and again to stop others from joining the club.
After the shocking Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel hit back hard, crushing Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in the north. With most of their enemies weakened, only Iran remained as the last threat to Israel.
That’s why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched “Operation Rising Lion.” Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear sites and military bases, and targeted scientists and commanders. As Netanyahu got help from U.S. President Trump, the U.S. Air Force joined in. Caught by surprise, Iran had no choice but to accept a humiliating ceasefire.
Lessons for Korea
Here’s the real question: Have we, as Koreans, ever faced North Korea’s nuclear threat with the same determination?
Since 1993, we’ve had seven presidencies led by both conservatives and progressives. But again and again, we hesitated. We talked. We compromised. We waited. Now, even many experts admit: It’s probably too late to completely get rid of North Korea’s nukes. But that doesn’t mean we can give up. We need to think clearly, act wisely and move decisively — now.
The new Korean government must treat this issue with real urgency. Close consultation between Korea and the U.S. is essential in this effort. Just look at the recent U.S.-Israel joint strike: Israel worked hand-in-hand with the U.S., from high-level strategy sessions to full military coordination. This strong partnership led to the remarkable success of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” carried out by the U.S. Air Force. Netanyahu even visited the U.S. three times after President Trump was re-elected. At every crucial moment, he picks up the phone and calls Trump. This is a clear sign of their commitment to close cooperation.
Comprehensive, well-coordinated strategies
Now, South Korea must follow suit. Following National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac’s recent trip to Washington, President Lee Jae Myung recently handpicked a three-member delegation to the U.S. — Park Yong-man, the former chief of the Doosan Group, will lead South Korea’s delegation to the U.S. Special envoy Park, the new foreign minister and top military officials are all preparing visits to meet their U.S. counterparts. President Lee is also expected to visit Washington in the near future for a summit with Trump. Tariff negotiations are the top priority. But North Korea needs to be addressed as an equally important issue during their talks.
Israel followed a simple strategy: Warn, wait and strike. But the North Korean threat is far more complex than Iran’s nuclear ambition. Its nuclear and missile capabilities have advanced significantly in recent years. A simple approach won’t work. South Korea needs comprehensive, well-coordinated strategies. South Korea and the U.S. must agree on a clear plan before U.S.-North Korea talks begin. At the same time, South Korea should take the lead in exploring ways to rebuild trust and promote cooperation with the North. And, in case these efforts fail, South Korea must have a Plan B — one that requires even more delicate consultation and careful cooperation with the U.S.
South Korea needs to remember that Israel and Iran fought with everything on the line — national survival, pride, the future. We must show the same determination. Whether using carrots or sticks, South Korea must use every possible tool we have to get the right result. Time won’t wait. And no one else will defend our country for us.
Ma Young-sam, a former South Korean ambassador to Israel and also South Korea’s former representative to Palestine, is a research fellow at Asiatic Research Institute at Korea University. The views expressed in this article is the author's own.