Commentary
The U.S. nuclear umbrella in Asia is failing. North Korea on Jan. 1 announced plans to “exponentially increase” its nuclear arsenal, including small-yield tactical nuclear weapons for the targeting of South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missile production for the targeting of the United States.
The rogue country is walking its talk. On Jan. 1, it fired a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan. Last year, it fired a record quantity of missiles. In December, it sent drones into South Korean airspace, including one that reached a point about an hour’s drive from Seoul.
Pyongyang has top cover from China and Russia, which can veto attempts by the United Nations to impose punishing sanctions for the North’s aggression….