‘World closer to world war as North and South Korea launch missiles’

World edges closer to world war as North and South Korea launch missiles (Image: GETTY)That North and South Korea have been divided for over half a century is hardly news. The two countries – historically united – have been in a state of frozen conflict since the 1950s, with increasing sabre-rattling from Pyongyang in the North. Things however took a sharp turn today. For the first time, North and South Korea fired missiles landing in waters off each other’s coastlines.Predictably, North Korea – angered by recent US-South Korea exercises – started the escalation, launching 23 missiles, one of  which landed less than 40 miles from the city of Sokcho.This was an ‘unacceptable’ breach according to Seoul, which understandably responded with warplanes firing three air-to-ground missiles of its own. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol called Pyongyang’s actions an ‘effective territorial invasion’.It was the first time an apparent North Korean missile test landed outside of South Korea’s territorial waters, but south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the effective maritime border.Could North Korea then be preparing to escalate tensions, not only with South Korea, but also with Japan and, by extension, the US?This is worth asking given Pyongyang’s relationship with fellow communists in Beijing, and given the growing dependence of the North Korean regime on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).While occasionally an embarrassment for Beijing, the Kim regime in North Korea is generally seen by the CCP as a tool to counter US hegemony in the region, while also threatening the democracies of Japan and South Korea.As tensions heat up in the Taiwan Strait, it seems North Korea will be playing Belarus to China’s Russia. For starters, North Korea could tie down Japan and South Korea, as well as US forces in the region, giving the CCP a freer hand in blockading or invading Taiwan.Indeed, the latest escalation comes as aerial photos reveal the extent of China’s military build-up in its artificial islands. According to a report in the Telegraph, the pictures by Getty photographer Ezra Acayan were taken from an aircraft flying near disputed reefs and rocks China converted into bases.Military analysts said they showed radar stations, airfields, artillery installations, and fast attack boats. Such facilities could be useful for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the event of war over Taiwan.Even if the PLA resorted to an initial blockade of Taiwan, North Korea may be called upon by Beijing to aid the efforts. In the event of invasion, North Korea could supply personnel, given the volume of troops which would be needed.The strong ties between China and North Korea were seen recently when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter of congratulations to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the latter secured a third term in office.For now, a more belligerent North Korea may be seen in Beijing as a way of deflecting attention and resources away from the Taiwan Strait, while helping China counter US influence in the Korean peninsula and east Asia.Washington is certainly taking the CCP threat seriously. The US is now set to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia, with apparent plans for a squadron operations facility.If, as many suspect, the CCP seeks to link the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea – while securing control of Taiwan – then it will surely look to use its allies in North Korea to assist in whatever ways they can.The West then will need to take this into consideration as it increases security in the Asia-Pacific region.