Russia in Global Affairs

We can observe a trend toward adaptation, as leading powers adjust their approaches to the reality of North Korea’s de facto nuclear status. This shift also extends to the Trump administration. Following this lead, the leadership of the Republic of Korea is now compelled—if not to openly abandon the demand for the DPRK’s denuclearization—then to pursue significantly more flexible means of addressing this highly sensitive issue.

Seoul believes that South Korea, with its advanced port infrastructure, is a natural gateway to the Pacific, opening access to the entire continent of Eurasia all the way to the Atlantic.

The political intrigue has another side to it, namely, the deterrence of China’s growing ambitions in the Korean peninsula and across the region. The minimum objective is to put Beijing in front of a stark choice: whether it prefers to team up with the North Korean “provocateurs” or with the “civilized community.” Whichever option the Chinese may choose, according to the American logic they will find themselves in the losing position.