Little remarked upon but of potentially grave concern, both Iran and North Korea tested ballistic missiles over the weekend. Both tests constitute threats to the peace of the Middle East and the Northern Pacific respectively, according to Hot Air. The Iranian tests were meant to demonstrate the Islamic Republic’s ability to strike at United States Navy ships. North Korea aims at frightening South Korea and Japan and extending a middle finger to the United States.
More missile defense for South Korea
The Trump administration has already accelerated the deployment of missile defenses in South Korea and is contemplating further measures, including the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Both are likely to attract the attention of China which now must rethink its support of North Korea as a means to keep the West off balance.
What to do with a problem like Iran
No news exists yet about any similar measures being undertaken in the Persian Gulf region. One step the United States may take would be the deployment of Aegis antimissile equipped warships. Israel has already started the deployment of multilayered missile defenses aimed mainly at Iran which has vowed to destroy the Jewish state.
What happens next?
The question that arises is, what happens next? One option being considered on both sides of both parts of the world is an undertaking to shoot missiles when launched by rogue states such as North Korea and Iran.
That strategy is a risky one, not the least of which what might happen if missile defenses fail. Missile defenses will have to be refined and strengthened so that the rogue state threat is countered effectively.
The Trump administration is facing a mess caused by years of neglect verging on appeasement on the part of its predecessor.
The Iran nuclear weapons deal was widely regarded as a latter-day Munich agreement when it was first implemented. Nothing that President Obama did restrained the behavior of either Iran or North Korea. The result is that Trump is faced with two similar problems in separate parts of the world with no clear solution that does not involve risk.
The option of a preemptive strike is on the table for both countries, but with the risk of starting costly wars, something to be avoided if at all possible.
