On October 15, Pyongyang blew up parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae railway lines, which connect North and South Korea. Reports say explosions occurred just 10 meters away from the military demarcation line (MDL), which marks the boundary between the two countries. Seoul responded by issuing a stern condemnation and ordering its troops to conduct retaliatory strikes south of the MDL, citing its right to self-defense. Are these developments on the Korean Peninsula a sign of escalating conflict? In this episode of “Taiwan Talks,” we examine the timing and motives of North Korea’s actions, historical developments in inter-Korean relations, and how South Korea may aim to tackle threats from its neighbor. Furthermore, we discuss how the U.S. and China are impacting the Korean Peninsula, and what conflict on the Korean Peninsula would mean for the region at large.
Our guests are:
Huang Kwei-bo
- National Chengchi University Department of Diplomacy Professor
Stephen Tan
- International Policy Advisory Group Managing Director
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