The world was shocked by North Korea leader Kim Jong-un.
The North’s great heir made a sudden announcement last weekend, warning of a “pre-emptive nuclear strike” on the United States. The next day, he issued a statement declaring that the North-South relations will be entering the state of war.
Let’s think about it. If North Korea attacks the U.S. and causes the outbreak of the second Korean War, it will then be a Northeast Asia war. Of course, China, Russia and Japan would not just watch with folded arms.
In case if Kim is really getting angry and casts a nuclear bomb, everyone will then have to run for their lives. Since Northeast Asia is not so far from Southeast Asia, Malaysians would also have no time to hold the general election.
Of course, the world is studying carefully with wide eyes and wondering whether something has gone wrong. Is Kim, just like other children in the world, just playing an online war game with his iPad?
I do have such a doubt. North Korea has recently made a video showing it bombing the U.S. White House. The Photoshop effects were not that impressive and I believe that many Malaysian secondary school students can actually make it. However, its people were so excited for destroying the evil U.S., gaining a huge victory spiritually.
However, the child seems very serious this time. Through an international news agency, he released a photo showing him in the office, accompanied by four generals who are reverently looking at him signing a strategic plan to attack the U.S.
There is a map behind him, clearly showing the four bombing targets, namely Hawaii, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Austin.
It might be the third external attacks of the US. The last time was the al-Qaida attacks and the first time was when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour during World War II.
The difference is, al-Qaida and the Japanese had launched attacks without declaring war, causing the U.S. to be caught off its guard. Kim, meanwhile, is more generous as he has made a prior notice and even revealed the targets clearly, so that the U.S. can prepare for it.
Of course, those with military knowledge will ask whether North Korea has really made a rapid progress in its missile? It had to rely on lucks to hit its targets at a few hundreds of kilometers away in the past but today, it is able to hit the U.S. located at thousands of miles away?
Even though we have doubts and are laughing at it, we should not underestimate Kim.
His father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim Il-sung had loved such kind of threats. Whenever necessary, particularly when their power were under pressure, they would resort to missile threats.
However, the trick should not be used too frequently or overused, or it might bring a greater counterattack.
Kim has been addicted to the trick since he took over the power about a year ago. Missiles could not satisfied him and thus, he carried out nuclear test and now, he even wants to attack the U.S. and declare war on South Korea.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized that Kim was behaving like a “spoiled child” to get America’s attention.
Hillary is a mother and thus, she knows that when a child lacks the sense of security, he or she will do something, like crying and making noise, to attract attention and get some benefits.
Kim is just like a child trying to grab attention. However, he has gone too far. In addition to keep pestering the U.S., South Korea and Japan, he has even offended China and Russia, the great backers that even his father and grandfather dared not to offend.
He is a spoiled child who does not understand the real world, let alone the rules of the international political game. The problem is, the power in his hands is far beyond his experience and wisdom.
By Tay Tian Yan
Tay Tian Yan is deputy editor in chief of the Sin Chew Daily, a Malaysian-language newspaper based in Kuala Lumpur. ― Ed.
