The conflict between the US and North Korea didn’t suddenly sprout out of nowhere. Rather, it can be traced back to the years of the cold war between the US and USSR. Post World War II saw the defeat of Japan, leading to a four-power trusteeship established over Korea as agreed at the Yalta Conference in 1945 by Allied forces. This agreement, however, was never actualized due to the fear of the spread of communism and the mistrust between the USSR and US. In the absence of a concrete plan, USSR invaded Korea, dividing it into two segments – the north under USSR control and the south under the supervision of other allies, primarily the US.
The Division at the 38th Parallel
One key geographical marker is the 38th parallel – the line that divided Korean peninsula into two regions. When the United Nations proposed free elections over Korea in 1948, the USSR declined and declared the northern part as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Elections were only held in the southern part, which led to the establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Both nations aspired to extend their reach territorially and ideologically, setting the stage for the Korean conflict.
The Unresolved Korean War
The Korean War began on 25th June 1950 when North Korea, with USSR’s backing, launched an invasion on South Korea, capturing much of its territory. The United Nations force led by the US in response. When the US troops crossed the 38th parallel in 1951, China entered the war supporting North Korea. Peace talks kicked off later in the year with India playing a significant role in the negotiations involving key stakeholders like the US, USSR and China. Come 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed marking an official ceasefire; however, no peace treaty was ever signed signifying that the war technically never ended.
The Us-North Korea Stand-Off
During the cold war era, North Korea developed its nuclear capabilities with the suspected support of Russia and China. At the same time, the US extended its Nuclear Umbrella – a guarantee to protect its allies, South Korea and Japan, against a nuclear attack – to its allies. Post its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003, North Korea has increased nuclear missile testing under Kim Jong-un’s leadership. International law prohibits North Korea from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The US responded to this by deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) in South Korea starting March 2017. What began as a territorial conflict between North and South Korea spiraled into a face-off between the US and North Korea with the US imposing sanctions after diplomatic efforts failed.
India’s Stance on the Issue
India’s position on the US-North Korea conflict has been clear and consistent – it opposes North Korean nuclear and missile tests, even though it has maintained a neutral stance concerning sanctions. India has traditionally advocated for peaceful negotiations and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.