Five things to know about Donald Trump-North Korea standoff

In recent years, the tension has been on the rise between the US and the rogue Communist state. Since Donald Trump came to power, the war of words has further heated up in the wake of North Korea conducting several Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) tests in defiance of international advice.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump warned North Korea that the US would counter its nuclear threats with “fire and fury” which did not go well with the Chinese government, known to be Pyongyang’s most trusted ally and benefactor.

Here are 5 things to know about the North Korea’s nuclear crisis:

The history of the Korean peninsula since WWII

Korea was a single political entity until the end of World War II. After the end of WWII in 1945, the country was divided into an erstwhile Soviet Union-protected northern part and the south, which enjoyed American protection. In 1948, after the two global powers failed to agree on the formation of a unified government, the informal division entrenched itself as two Korean states came into existence.

The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) began when North Korea invaded their southern neighbour.

In retaliation, the first major US strategic bombing campaign against North Korea began in late July 1950. On August 12, 1950, the US Air Force dropped 625 tonne of bombs on North Korea; two weeks later, the daily tonnage increased to some 800 tonnes.

North Koreans had their closest encounter with the United States during the US/UN occupation of North Korea in the two months after the Incheon landing. China came to the aid of North Korea, with the Soviet Union providing some assistance too.

Who are North Korea’s allies?

North Korea borders China and Russia, and any crisis on the peninsula would add extra strain to these borders. The US has time and again accused China and Russia of providing Kim cover to pursue his nuclear ambitions. Trump has previously expressed frustration at the pace of China’s efforts to rein in its north-eastern neighbour, which it supports with food and fuel. Moscow also invests heavily in North Korea’s energy sector and is said to fix up Kim’s regime with hard currency, which it needs to purchase foreign goods.

On Wednesday, Xinhua, Beijing’s official state news agency, published an editorial slamming Trump’s “fire and fury” comments. Though it didn’t mention the US President, the wording left no doubt as to who the editorial was referring to.

“The bottom line on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is that there must not be any armed conflict there,” read the editorial. “There is no room for any related party to play with fire on the issue.”

This isn’t the first time that Xinhua news agency, widely seen as mouthpiece of Beijing, has taken a dig at Trump. Last week, Xinhua published another editorial that referred to Trump’s incessant Twitter habit as “emotional venting.”

What is the latest standoff about?

ICBMs are seen as the last word in power projection. North Korea’s efforts are seen as being focused on building the long-range missiles, which would have the potential of reaching the mainland United States.

On July 3, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un carried out an intercontinental ballistic missile test, saying it was a “gift” to “American bastards” on their Independence Day.

On July 28, North Korea conducted another ICBM test. According to experts, the missiles could potentially hit the entire United States. The missile launch was meant as a “stern warning” for the United States, North Korea said.

What has Donald Trump said?

In response to North Korea’s ICBM test, the US and South Korean militaries conducted a live-fire exercise using surface-to-surface missiles. President Donald Trump condemned North Korea's actions.

“Threatening the world, these weapons and tests further isolate North Korea, weaken its economy, and deprive its people. The United States will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the American homeland and protect our allies in the region,” Trump said.

North Korea’s plans to strike Guam

Nuclear-armed North Korea mocked President Donald Trump as "bereft of reason" on Thursday, raising the stakes in their stand-off with an unusually detailed plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US territory of Guam.

“Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason. The military would complete the Guam plan by mid-August and submit it to Kim Jong-Un for consideration”, said General Kim Rak-Gyom, the commander of the North's missile forces.

The four missiles would be launched simultaneously and overfly the Japanese prefectures of Shimane, Hiroshima and Koichi, he added.

They would have a flight time of 17 minutes 45 seconds, travel 3,356.7 kilometres (around 2,086 miles) and come down 30 to 40 kilometres away from Guam, it said -- which would put the impact points just outside US territorial waters.