Is East Asia in a race to the bottom? North Korea seems to think so. On Tuesday, Pyongyang condemned a new submarine deal between Seoul and Washington, warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. The commentary described the move as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting a “hot arms race.”
The deal was finalized last week by President Lee Jae Myung. It secures U.S. support for expanding South Korea’s authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing. North Korea views this as the starting gun for a new competition.
The race began just one day after Seoul proposed military talks. President Lee has sought to engage the North without preconditions, hoping to stop the competition. However, the North believes the race is already on.
The “nuclear domino” warning suggests that the race will have many participants. North Korea is arguing that everyone will want what the South has. This narrative paints a picture of a dangerous future.
North Korea has not yet responded to the proposal for talks. The focus on the race suggests that speed is picking up. The region watches the competitors.