A battle is waging between the promise of talks and the reality of technology. On Tuesday, North Korea condemned a new submarine deal between Seoul and Washington, warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. This condemnation pits the South’s military technology against its own diplomatic proposals.
The deal was announced 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 described this technology as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting a “hot arms race.”
The battle lines were drawn just one day after Seoul proposed military talks. President Lee has sought to engage the North without preconditions, prioritizing dialogue. However, the North seems to be prioritizing the technological threat.
The “nuclear domino” warning suggests that technology is winning. North Korea is arguing that the new capabilities make talks irrelevant. This narrative threatens to sink the peace process.
North Korea has yet to respond to the offer for military talks. The focus on the technology suggests that the battle is far from over. The region waits to see which force will prevail.