New world order will be built through conflicts - Ukraine's Diplomat on DPRK's attacks against South Korea

Aleksandr Khara, a diplomat and expert on foreign and security policy at the Center for Defense Strategies, expressed this opinion on the Espreso TV channel.

"Kim Jong Un, like any totalitarian leader, can misjudge the situation and resort to conflict. Let's hope that it will not lead to a third world war," he said.

According to him, these threats are not primarily directed against South Korea, but against the United States, its allies in the region, and Japan. But, of course, South Korea is under threat today because it is geographically closest.

"Even if North Korea does not use nuclear weapons, it can deliver a devastating blow to South Korea. Literally 40 km from the demilitarized zone is the center of Seoul, where almost half of the population lives and 70% of economic assets are located," Khara said.

The DPRK can cause damage with multiple rocket launchers and howitzers. On the first day, there could be over 250,000 victims, about 90,000 killed and the rest wounded, the diplomat said.

"This threat is only growing and is being helped, as in the past the Soviet Union and China helped with missile systems or nuclear weapons development, and now the Russian Federation helps in exchange for ammunition supplied to kill Ukrainians," he emphasized.

This conflict is probably just a "reminder of itself" and Kim Jong Un is not ready for a large-scale conflict yet, Khara said.

"He would like to convert his growing nuclear and missile power into concessions from the international community. Perhaps Kim Jong Un, like Putin, is waiting for Trump to come. They had a very friendly relationship," he added.

• On Friday, January 5, the DPRK fired about 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands on the western border.  In response to the attack, South Korea launched live-fire military exercises on the border islands.
• On Saturday, January 6, South Korea's military reported that the DPRK fired about 60 artillery shells into the waters off its west coast, conducting live-fire exercises for the second day in a row near the heavily guarded western border.
• On January 7, the DPRK fired about 90 shells for the third day in a row, shelling South Korea.