Are escalating tensions driving the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war?

World
Europe

By CGTN's Dialogue

Steps taken by numerous countries have taken the entire Korean Peninsula one step closer to warfare.

With the involvement of most of the world's major powers, attention has rarely been away from northeast Asia.

But to assess just how close the region is to all-out war, CGTN's Dialogue with Yang Rui spoke to experts who attempted to explain the complex situation in the region.

Yang Xiyu, a senior fellow from the China Institute of International Studies, doesn’t think the situation will develop into a Third World War, but does think some sort of conflict is close.

“The Third World War is not necessarily to be triggered here (Korean Peninsula), the probability of war being triggered in Korean Peninsula is fast growing because of the recent development. The competition of military building up between the two sides have made the situation at a very dangerous point,” he said.

However, Professor James Rae from California State University thinks six-party talks is still a viable solution to solving this problem.

“Fundamentally, we still return to the dramatic situation which is North Korea is in the interest to have progression of capability to enable receive compensation to preserve the regime,” he said.

“The US doesn’t really have a military option. I think ultimately President Trump has to return back to sanctions on the regime and perhaps get ultimately to the six-party talks.”

Takesato Watanabe, Professor Emeritus at Doshisha University, singled out China as a solid power among all parties.

“Among the four countries – America, China, South Korea and Japan – only China is strong and united. So China should lead the situation this time.”

Dialogue with Yang Rui is a 30-minute current affairs talk show on CGTN. It airs daily at 7.30 p.m. BJT (1130GMT), with rebroadcasts at 3.30 a.m. (1930GMT) and 11.30 a.m. (0330GMT).