On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (October 10), North Korea held a military parade in Pyongyang late at night on October 10 and early morning on October 11, in the rain, continuing the recent tradition of holding parades at night; this parade focused on showcasing a modernized weapons system, with the "Hwasong-20" intercontinental ballistic missile (with a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers, capable of covering the U.S. mainland) as the highlight, while also presenting hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions, reflecting three major trends in weapon development: hypersonic capabilities, solid-fuel technology, and the construction of a multi-layered precision strike network, clearly demonstrating its "asymmetric deterrence" strategy.
The weapons display during this North Korean parade is essentially a direct response to changes in the strategic environment in Northeast Asia. The continuous strengthening of military cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea, along with the increased frequency and scale of joint military exercises, has continuously heightened North Korea's anxiety about its security environment. Building a comprehensive strike capability from tactical to strategic levels, and from conventional to nuclear deterrence, is the core logic for North Korea to counteract security pressures through "asymmetric means."
This path of weapons development may strengthen deterrence in the short term, but it could also trigger a chain reaction. The U.S. and South Korea might take this opportunity to further advance the deployment of anti-missile systems and strengthen military alliances, forming a "security dilemma" vicious cycle, making the already complex situation on the Korean Peninsula even harder to resolve.
Looking ahead, to break this deadlock, it is still necessary to return to dialogue and consultation - only through equal dialogue to build a framework of mutual trust can the security anxieties of all parties be truly alleviated, and a sustainable solution for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula be found. Relying solely on military deterrence cannot fundamentally solve the problem.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845674947433479/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.