New South Korean President Faces Multiple Challenges

When the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 15 days ago, North Korea cast the only dissenting vote in the entire Indo-Pacific region. It is not surprising that Pyongyang wants to stay on the good side of a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, nor that Russia has now joined North Korea as one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. But Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression may also provide additional cover to Kim Jong-un’s regime as it appears to make a dangerous play for strategic dominance on the Korean peninsula.

Kim is preparing a special inauguration present for South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol: a new missile crisis. By May 10, when liberal President Moon Jae-in completes his five-year term and Yoon assumes office, North Korea is almost sure to have crept closer to resuming successful nuclear- and long-range-missile tests. A suspected ballistic-missile test earlier this week apparently failed, but Kim is sure to persevere.

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Patrick M. Cronin

Patrick M. Cronin is the Asia-Pacific Security Chair at Hudson Institute.

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When the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 15 days ago, North Korea cast the only dissenting vote in the entire Indo-Pacific region. It is not surprising that Pyongyang wants to stay on the good side of a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, nor that Russia has now joined North Korea as one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. But Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression may also provide additional cover to Kim Jong-un’s regime as it appears to make a dangerous play for strategic dominance on the Korean peninsula.

Kim is preparing a special inauguration present for South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol: a new missile crisis. By May 10, when liberal President Moon Jae-in completes his five-year term and Yoon assumes office, North Korea is almost sure to have crept closer to resuming successful nuclear- and long-range-missile tests. A suspected ballistic-missile test earlier this week apparently failed, but Kim is sure to persevere.