US-China rivalry ‘hampering efforts to denuclearise Korean peninsula’

Name: South Koreans spooked as secret rocket launch mistaken for UFO
Uploaded: 2023-01-05T10:01:48.000Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: South Koreans spooked as secret rocket launch mistaken for UFO

While the North’s nuclear programme is a key element, some observers believe Washington is also keen to boost the capacity to deter Beijing

The US has backed the South’s efforts to strengthen its arsenal of ballistic missiles, possibly with an eye to China as well as to the North

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North Korea conducted its latest rocket tests over the new year. Photo: dpa

Seong Hyeon Choi

Published: 6:01pm, 5 Jan 2023

The US-China rivalry has been blamed for adding to the military tensions on the Korean peninsula and pushing the goal of denuclearisation further from reach.

Last week South Korea tested a solid-fuel rocket – potentially a key step on the way to developing ballistic missiles – nine months after its first test of the technology.

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South Koreans spooked as secret rocket launch mistaken for UFO

The North responded to Seoul’s test by launching three short-range ballistic missiles on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and earlier last month it claimed to have tested a “high-thrust, solid-fuel” rocket motor to develop a “new-type” of strategic weapon system.

Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said the escalating rivalry with Beijing was partly driving Washington’s support for South Korea’s development of missile technology.

“From the US perspective, South Korea acquiring missile capabilities can increase deterrence against North Korea,” said Park. “And the expansion of the alliance between Seoul and Washington can also be helpful in containing China.”

Kang Jun-young, professor of Chinese studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, echoed the view and said South Korea obtaining independent medium or long-range missile technology could be a “threat” to China.