The coordinated action demonstrates renewed cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea, White House security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement, calling on North Korea to engage in diplomacy. “The diplomatic door is not closed yet,” Watson said. “But Pyongyang must stop its destabilizing actions immediately and reunite.”
He also said that North Korea is becoming increasingly “desperate” and trying to steal digital currencies, while not shying away from other cybercrimes. For example, in 2021 more than 600 million dollars were allegedly seized by the North Korean hacker collective Lazarus Group.
New ways
The US-Japan-South Korean alliance is diligently seeking new measures to increase pressure on North Korea, already heavily sanctioned by the US and the United Nations. For example, the importation of important fuels has been severely restricted and foreign assets have been frozen.
However, according to experts, the sanctions are not very effective. Even looking at North Korea’s nuclear projects, which appear to be continuing.
Russia and China
The fact that Russia and China show no intention of punishing North Korea further doesn’t help either. Both countries have the ability to veto the UN Security Council and are also partners with Kim Jong-un.
North Korea has launched a record number of missiles this year, and it was able to do so in the shadow of the war in Ukraine on which the Americans have mainly focused. In November, the North Koreans launched an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, ed), a missile that could reach the American continent with a nuclear warhead.