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Behind the Korean Peninsula “Arms Race”
North and South Korea have recently staged displays of military prowess, causing some to worry about an accelerating arms race.
But both countries were playing politics.
- Christopher Green
- ICG
Any uptick in tensions is likely to come after the Beijing Olympics and South Korean elections in March 2022.
In the autumn months, the two Koreas put on something of a military show for the world.
As they flexed their muscles – testing missiles and displaying new capabilities – commentators speculated about an accelerating arms race and wondered whether the peninsula might be headed for a crisis moment after several quiet years.
Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and…