The seven-year silence between the two Koreas was broken this week, not by talks, but by a war of words. On Tuesday, North Korea condemned a new submarine deal between Seoul and Washington, warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. This outburst effectively drowned out South Korea’s proposal for military talks, made just a day earlier.
The deal was finalized last week by President Lee Jae Myung. It grants South Korea expanded authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing. North Korea described the move as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting it would spark a “hot arms race.”
The proposal for military talks was a significant attempt to break the silence. President Lee has sought to engage the North without preconditions, hoping to restart dialogue. However, the North’s reaction suggests that they prefer shouting to talking.
The “nuclear domino” warning is a loud signal of disapproval. North Korea is arguing that the South’s actions are making peace impossible. This narrative frames the silence as the fault of the South.
North Korea has not yet responded to the offer for military talks. The continued silence on the diplomatic front suggests that the war of words will continue. The region faces a noisy and dangerous future.