Missile show-off strategy fraught with danger, US must find ways to engage with North Korea

South Korea has fired three air-to-ground missiles in response to North Korea's missile launches. Tensions are escalating in the Korean peninsula. There is an urgent need to indulge in communication with North Korea.

Need to talk

No significant overt diplomatic interaction between the United States and North Korea has taken place recently. Lack of communication breeds mistruct. Back channel diplomatic routes help resolve unforseen developments.

If there is a further flare-up of tension due to a missile-mishap, confrontation with weapons will be the only option on the table.

True, Kim-led North Korea is not keen to scale down its belligerent attitude. But a further escalation of tension is fraught with dire consequences for all the parties involved.

Economic impact of armed conflict

At a time when the Russia-Ukrain conflict is all set for a long haul, another armed conflict will be a death blow to the world economy. Already, poor and developing countries are in tatters, there seems to be no respite in the near future.

Earlier this month, when Kim-led North Korea launched several missile tests, including one that flew over neighbouring Japan this month. The United States and its allies responded with bombing drills.

Missiles fired today
South Korea's military on Wednesday said that it has fired three air-to-ground missiles in the wake of missiles launched by North Korea. The missiles were fired into waters "near the Northern Limit Line at a distance corresponding to the area where the North Korean missile struck," South Korea's military said in a statement, adding the exercise showed that Seoul would respond "sternly to any provocations".

The launches came just hours after Pyongyang demanded that the United States and South Korea stop large-scale military exercises, saying such "military rashness and provocation can be no longer tolerated."