As North Korea continues to launch missiles, increasing tension in the Korean Peninsula, a North Korean expert has once again asserted the possibility of a military conflict this year.
On the 27th (local time), Robert Carlin, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, stated in a webinar hosted by the Stimson Center, “Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, remains focused on war preparations and there is a possibility of a military conflict in the West Sea.”
In January, Kim stated in the Supreme People’s Assembly, “As long as our country’s southern border line is drawn, there’s no allowance for border-line, including the illegal and lawless Northern Limit Line. If South Korea infringes on our territory, airspace, or territorial waters by even 0.00004 inches, it is a provocation of war.”
He also mentioned that the current North Korean constitution does not have regulations on territory, territorial waters, or airspace. He said, “There is a need to amend some parts of the Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea related to this.”
Carlin stated, “Kim Jong Un specifically mentioned the West Sea and said this issue should be discussed at the next meeting and specified in the constitution. After the January meeting, a meeting is usually held in September or October. This means we have three to four months of grace period, during which the situation could escalate.”
He added, “Kim Jong Un observed a missile launch in the East Sea in January but had military officials from the West Sea come and watch. I think Kim Jong Un continues to focus on preparing for war and believes a conflict might occur in the West Sea.”
Carlin also mentioned the U.S. election and added, “Kim Jong Un would hope for Donald Trump to win. This would mean the U.S. is in chaos, making it clearer that North Korea can do more of what it wants.”
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