The US-North Korea conflict was 'ignited' by a single birch tree.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP.

On the morning of September 15, North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of ​​Japan. Tokyo said the North Korean missile flew over Hokkaido and landed 2,000 kilometers east of the island. This marks the second time North Korea has launched a missile over Japanese territory.

Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community.

On September 11, the United Nations Security Council adopted a draft resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea, prepared by the United States. The new sanctions prohibit North Korea from exporting textiles, restrict imports of petroleum products, liquefied natural gas and condensate, limit the employment of North Korean laborers abroad, and require countries employing North Korean workers to notify the expiration date of existing contracts. The resolution also allows countries to inspect ships suspected of carrying prohibited North Korean goods, but only with the consent of the ship's owner.

However, sanctions still appear unable to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

In light of Pyongyang's provocative actions, observers have even considered the possibility of war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula. US President Donald Trump and his top security advisors have affirmed that Washington has military options available to deal with North Korea, and that if they were to be used, the scale would be enormous.

However, before President Trump makes any decisions, he should perhaps consider an event from the Cold War era as a guide in handling the North Korean crisis, according to First Post.

The birch tree ignites conflict.

At the height of the Cold War, the United States and North Korea were embroiled in a conflict so intense that it nearly escalated into a full-scale war.

On August 18, 1976, two U.S. Army soldiers were killed by two North Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for attempting to cut down a birch tree that was obstructing the view of United Nations observers. North Korea condemned the U.S. as "aggression" and demanded the immediate dissolution of the UN-led military command.

The US chose to demonstrate its power rather than engage in direct military confrontation with North Korea, because a military confrontation could lead to Soviet intervention and escalate the conflict into a nuclear war.

Three days after the incident, the U.S. and its South Korean allies launched Operation Paul Bunyan, felling the birch tree, the focal point of tension, as a show of force. At least 30 soldiers, armed with pistols and carrying axes, felled the tree in less than 45 minutes. U.S. forces raised their security alert to DEFCON 3, the highest level. North Korea then deployed 150-200 soldiers on standby.

However, North Korea appeared stunned by the AH-1 Cobra helicopters, escorted by US B-52 bombers and South Korean F-4 and F-5 fighters, which the US deployed to patrol the airspace over the South Korean border. F-111 and other fighters on runways in South Korea were also ready to sortie, while a US aircraft carrier had moved to the area. In addition, US infantry, armored vehicles, and artillery were also ready to provide support.

North Korea later expressed regret over the killing of the American soldiers. The two sides ultimately avoided a full-scale military confrontation.

North Korean soldiers jumped out of a truck and attacked a group of South Korean and American workers and soldiers. (Photo: History)

According to Politico, in 1976, US President Gerald Ford successfully "threatened" North Korea to prevent the conflict over birch trees from escalating into a bloody war. Pyongyang's hostile attitude and provocative actions are nothing new. Therefore, the lesson from more than four decades ago likely remains relevant, analysts believe.

However, some experts argue that, in the current context, this lesson is only for reference because a display of power alone cannot change Pyongyang, as North Korea is now a nuclear-armed state, holding a powerful bargaining chip. Evidence of this is that despite continuous condemnation from the international community and warnings of severe sanctions from the US, Japan, and South Korea, North Korea continues to conduct provocative missile launches and nuclear tests.

According to VNE