In the final analysis, submarines trump talks in the eyes of Pyongyang. On Tuesday, North Korea condemned a new deal between Seoul and Washington, warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. This reaction shows that military hardware outweighs diplomatic software.
The deal was announced last week by President Lee Jae Myung. It secures U.S. support for expanding South Korea’s authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing. North Korea described this as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting a “hot arms race.”
This analysis is confirmed by the timing. Just one day after Seoul proposed military talks, the North chose to attack the submarine deal. President Lee has sought to engage the North without preconditions, but the priorities are clear.
The “nuclear domino” warning is the conclusion of the analysis. North Korea is arguing that the South is a threat first and a partner second. This narrative dictates the relationship.
North Korea has yet to respond to the offer for military talks. The focus on the subs suggests that the analysis is complete. The region accepts reality.