In Border Standoff, South Korea Adopts a More Aggressive Posture

The Korean Peninsula is no stranger to seemingly imminent crisis, but a new standoff between the North and South along the Demilitarized Zone highlights the more complicated risk environment. On Aug. 20, North and South Korean forces exchanged fire across the inter-Korean border, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The South has also raised its military readiness alert to its highest level, "Jindogae 1," which indicates immediate danger or imminent attack. While neither North Korea nor South Korea wants war, the Korean Peninsula is in a period of dangerous posturing with significant risk of escalation and miscalculation.