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Focus Malaysia
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Israel-Iran conflict: When will the West learn?
THE world once again watched in alarm as the United States (US) launched military strikes against Iran, citing concerns over its nuclear weapons development. The international reaction has been largely cautious, with many nations urging diplomacy over aggression. But for those who remember the early 2000s, this latest development feels eerily familiar. History, it seems, is repeating itself and the lessons of the past remain unheeded. In 2003, the US, backed by Britain, Australia and other allies, invaded Iraq under the claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). That assertion was later proven to be false. No WMDs were ever found, and the war, arguably based on a fabricated premise, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, destabilised an entire region, and fuelled a generation of extremism. Yet, two decades later, not a single senior figure from the US or Britain faced civil or criminal liability. No tribunal, no sanctions, no legal consequences for initiating what some international law experts have labelled a 'crime of aggression'. The architects of the war continued their careers, published memoirs, gave lectures, and disappeared into quiet obscurity. Justice, for Iraq and for the world, was never served. Now, the same narrative is playing out with Iran. Allegations of nuclear weapons development, despite Iran's repeated insistence that its nuclear program is civilian in nature, are being used to justify military action. Meanwhile, the same countries that invaded Iraq with righteous fury remain silent about North Korea, a nation that has not only developed nuclear weapons but has conducted multiple missile tests aimed at showcasing its long-range strike capabilities. North Korea's Hwasong-14 and -15 missiles, launched in 2017, demonstrated potential range to strike US territories. As recently as 2024, North Korea conducted mock nuclear warhead launches and fired dozens of short-range ballistic missiles in defiance of US-South Korean military drills. Despite these provocations, the US has refrained from military strikes. Why the double standard? The answer may lie in geography, risk, and resources. North Korea, while dangerous, does not sit atop vast oil reserves. It is also bordered by China, a military and nuclear superpower, making any aggressive miscalculation potentially catastrophic. Iran and Iraq, on the other hand, are oil-rich nations located in a region where the US has long sought influence through both diplomacy and force. Control of oil routes, access to resources, and support for regional allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia have all contributed to the Middle East being a frequent target of Western military interventions. But what is often overlooked in this calculus is the human and cultural cost of these interventions. Iraq is not just a battlefield: it is Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilisation, home to some of the world's earliest writings, laws, and cities. Iran is not merely a 'nuclear threat': it is Persia, a land of poets, scientists, and empires that shaped human history. To reduce these nations to talking points in a geopolitical chess game is to insult their legacy and ignore their potential. If we continue to allow military might to dictate global norms without accountability, we not only erode the principles of international law, we risk destroying civilisations that have enriched humanity for millennia. The world deserves better than a system where power excuses everything and history is rewritten by the victors. The cradle of Mesopotamia, the gardens of Persia, the philosophies, the poetry, the science—these are not threats. They are treasures. And if they are lost, it will not be the fault of tyrants alone, but of those who stood by while empires masked greed as justice. Let us finally hold to account those who manipulate truth to justify violence. If the West is sincere in its pursuit of justice, it must understand that peace is not imposed; it is earned through humility, restraint, and the courage to see others as equals. ‒ June 27, 2025 Dr Sheila Ramalingam is the Deputy Executive Director of UMLEAD, International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA), and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Reuters
Libyan Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
North Korea fires advanced missiles into Sea of Japan
North Korea unveiled what analysts believe to be the world's largest liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. Photo via Korean Central TV North Korea launched several ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed through Yonhap news agency . The projectiles were fired from Wonsan, a coastal city on North Korea's southeastern shore, and travelled approximately 190 miles eastward before landing in international waters. 'This clear provocation seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,' South Korea's military leadership declared in their official statement condemning the launches. Military intelligence suggests these projectiles are part of Pyongyang's new generation of sophisticated short-range ballistic missile systems, representing a significant technological leap from their Soviet-era arsenal. Defence analysts identify these as likely belonging to North Korea's KN-series missiles, which feature quasi-ballistic flight patterns specifically engineered to evade interception by contemporary missile defence systems. These newer weapons systems employ advanced manoeuvrability tactics, flying at unusually low altitudes before making abrupt trajectory changes. Such innovations considerably reduce the effectiveness of regional defensive countermeasures whilst simultaneously improving strike precision. Thursday's demonstration constitutes North Korea's fifth missile test this year, following a similar launch on 22 April. The timing appears deliberate, coming days before President Trump's 20 January inauguration and shortly after the conclusion of joint US-South Korean 'Freedom Shield' military exercises, which North Korea consistently characterises as invasion rehearsals. The ongoing missile development programme reflects North Korea's broader strategic shift toward asymmetric warfare capabilities to compensate for its ageing conventional forces. Experts note this approach allows Pyongyang to maintain military relevance whilst potentially strengthening its negotiating position in any future diplomatic engagements. Japanese and American defence officials continue monitoring the situation intently, with particular concern regarding the dual-capable nature of these missile systems, which could potentially deliver either conventional or nuclear warheads. This technological advancement represents a growing security challenge for the entire region as missile defence systems face increasingly sophisticated threats designed specifically to overcome their protective capabilities.
Jordan Times
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
N. Korea warns of 'accidental' war risk from US-South Korea drills
South Korean K1A2 tanks move during a joint live-fire drill between South Korea and the United States at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon on March 6, 2025 (AFP photo) SEOUL — North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a "provocative act", warning of the danger of sparking war with "an accidental single shot," days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. "This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot," said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea "Freedom Shield 2025" exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve "live, virtual, and field-based training", according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on March 6. Fifteen people, including civilians and military personnel, were wounded in that incident, South Korea's National Fire Agency said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The United States stations tens of thousands of soldiers in the South, in part to protect Seoul against Pyongyang. The large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are one of the allies' biggest annual joint exercises. In its statement on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry dubbed the exercises "an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal". Last week, Pyongyang slammed the United States for "political and military provocations" over the visit of a US Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan.
Khaleej Times
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
N. Korea warns of 'accidental' war risk from US-South Korea drills
North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a "provocative act", warning of the danger of sparking war with "an accidental single shot," days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. "This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot," said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea "Freedom Shield 2025" exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve "live, virtual, and field-based training", according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on March 6. Fifteen people, including civilians and military personnel, were wounded in that incident, South Korea's National Fire Agency said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The United States stations tens of thousands of soldiers in the South, in part to protect Seoul against Pyongyang. The large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are one of the allies' biggest annual joint exercises. In its statement on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry dubbed the exercises "an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal". Last week, Pyongyang slammed the United States for "political and military provocations" over the visit of a US Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan. © Agence France-Presse
South China Morning Post
10-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
After South Korea's bombing blunder, Pyongyang warns of ‘accidental' war
North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a 'provocative act', warning of the danger of sparking war with 'an accidental single shot', days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. Advertisement 'This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot,' said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea 'Freedom Shield 2025' exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve 'live, virtual, and field-based training', according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. 02:09 South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on village during military drill South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on village during military drill The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on Thursday
