Left to their own devices, the leaders of the United States and North Korea have ended up only escalating their rhetorical war. The world is holding its breath for fear of another war on the Korean Peninsula, this time, a nuclear war. It is time for all nations to engage and find a part to play in the North Korean crisis that could be a disaster for all.
It was made clear beyond doubt that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un cannot solve the global problem on their own. Trump showed maturity in his U.N. speech but it fell short of moving Kim. Trump talked about his preference for a peaceful resolution of the North’s brinkmanship and its mad rush to develop nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Kim ignored that and chose to pick a fight over Trump’s bellicose statement _ the North facing total destruction if it continues on a suicidal mission to threaten the U.S. and its allies.
Now the North’s ICBMs, apparently in the final stage of development, have thousands of kilometers in range and can strike Europe, Russia and China as well as the U.S.
Besides the two antagonists, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia have been engaged in an elusive effort to find a solution. Despite the potential of becoming the biggest victim in the case of war, Seoul has been sidelined; Japan siding with the U.S. to add to tension; China avoiding using its influence as the North’s only benefactor and Russia taking the North as leverage against the U.S. All told, there is emerging a replication of the Cold War standoff _ Seoul, Tokyo and Washington on one side against Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow on the other.
This time, the confrontation can be more dangerous because of the Thucydides’ trap pitting the old power, the U.S. and the new power, China, in a small theater such as the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea.
Countries that are interested in keeping the peace should seek a role. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are worth praise for their bid to help resolve the North Korean crisis peacefully. The world as a stakeholder in preventing a nuclear war in Korea should stop letting the U.S. and the North unilaterally decide its fate.