South Korea’s internal political instability leaves it vulnerable to rising security threats including North Korea’s military alliance with Russia, China’s growing regional influence and the United States’ unpredictability under President Donald Trump. South Korea needs a firm and cohesive security strategy that aligns with the US and Japan. Otherwise, it may suffer irreparable damage. North Korea’s nuclear advancements pose the most immediate threat. In January, Pyongyang launched what it claimed to be a hypersonic missile, which flew 1000km across Japan’s exclusive economic zone. During Joe Biden’s term as US president, South Korea increased military and intelligence cooperation with the US and Japan to enhance extended deterrence. Military information sharing, the US-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group and the deployment of US submarines have all been important responses to North Korea’s growing arsenal.
South Korea must move beyond partisan division to tackle security threats | The Strategist
