Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Crisis in Korean peninsula” (April 17). Ever since the Korean peninsula was bifurcated into two halves, North Korea and South Korea, the former has been on the brink of starvation, self-destruction and isolated in the comity of nations.
Of late, North Korea has been in news for its misdemeanours. In January this year, Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of the present dictator, was killed at the Kuala lumpur International Airport without any inquiry having been initiated by north Korea. last year, the tyrant autocrat had his Army staff head gunned down for having a siesta in public and now, he has dared the world’s most powerful country, the US, not to have any antagonism against it.
The editorial has rightly said that north Korea is not challenging the US on its own strength, China is covertly with it. But paradoxically, the hermit kingdom should keep in mind that in the 1965 war against India, Pakistan too had surmised that China, being belligerent against New Delhi following its victory over India in the 1962 war, would side with it and India would be made to capitulate.
But nothing of this sort ever happened and Pakistan had to bite the dust as ever before.
China should play a peace harbinger’s role and tell North Korea that war brings nothing but annihilation, while peace gives everything that a human being needs.