Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-destroyer-nuclear-trump-5c3ab31efd058e734ac645991fd22567
Yesterday North Korea commissioned a new 5000 ton naval destroyer in a port city named Wonsan. Kim Jong Un stated at the commencement that the new destroyer would significantly strengthen the North Korean navy’s nuclear deterrent, experts also commented saying that the new destroyer is a big upgrade to the North Korean navy and its offensive capabilities. The destroyer was commissioned the same day that the US, South Korea, and Japan began a 5 day military exercise off South Koreas southern coast. In response the North Korean Defense Ministry issued a statement warning that North Korea is capable of taking strong countermeasures against military exercises like what the US, South Korea, and Japan were running.
This shows a significant shift in North Koreas military strategy, changing its focus from mainly land based missiles to building a more modernized navy. We also can see how military collaboration between countries like South Korea, The US, and Japan can be a very effective strategy to show strength to foreign threats, so much so that the North Koreans felt the need to release a statement in response to the military exercises.
In the future North Korea will most likely continue to develop its navy and carry out missile testing in response to regional exercises and to show strength. The US, South Korea, and Japan will probably continue to work together in an attempt to maintain military readiness and to share intelligence. Also with Russia becoming a close ally of North Korea they may get involved with development of the North Korean navy or military strategy.
Overall, this article shows how routine exercises and warship rollouts carry so much strategic weight. It also shows how real world events directly connect to these concepts by proving that even small defensive actions can create big diplomatic reactions across the entire East Asia region.