President Lee Jae Myung is taking a political gamble by betting on both submarines and peace. On Tuesday, North Korea condemned his new submarine deal with the U.S., warning of a “nuclear domino” effect. This backlash threatens to make the gamble a losing one.
The deal was finalized last week. It grants South Korea expanded authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing. While Lee views this as smart politics, North Korea describes it as a “dangerous attempt at confrontation,” predicting a “hot arms race.”
The gamble was exposed just one day after Seoul proposed military talks. Lee has offered unconditional discussions, hoping to balance the two sides of his policy. However, the North is refusing to accept the duality.
The “nuclear domino” warning suggests that the gamble is failing. North Korea is arguing that the two policies are incompatible. This narrative puts pressure on Lee.
North Korea has not yet responded to the proposal for talks. The focus on the gamble suggests that the stakes are high. The region watches the cards turn.