Nuclear-capable N Korea is in nobody’s interest

North Korea test-fired yet another ballistic missile on Sunday in a stark defiance of United Nations sanctions and US warning that a policy of patience was over. It was a new ground-to-ground medium long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12. It came days after South Korea’s newly elected president Moon Jae-in vowed to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The missile flew about 700 kilometers and had estimated altitude of 2,000 kilometers, which suggests that it may be a new type. The US Pacific Command said the projectile
was consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile and did not pose a threat to North America. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the missile test “a serious threat to Japan” as it fell outside country’s exclusive economic zone.
The launch, which came a day after North Korea’s foreign ministry said the regime would be willing to talk to the US if conditions were right, is an early test for Moon Jae-in who favours a combination of sanctions and talks to bring a halt to Kim’s nuclear weapons program. The timing of the launch sends a clear signal to Moon that he will have to deal with Pyongyang on North Korea’s terms. Moon said the launch was a challenge for global security. He maintains that South Korea remains open to the possibility of talks but will deal sternly with North Korea’s provocations.
North Korea said that new rocket, its seventh such test this year, could carry a “large-size heavy nuclear warhead” over long distances. The missile performance was much better than those test-fired before and marks a giant leap towards developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. Analysts say it could hit US military forces on the island of Guam. Kim regime has tested dozens of projectiles and three nuclear weapons since he came to power after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il in 2011.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said military action is an option to prevent Kim’s regime from developing missiles that could carry a nuclear warhead to North America. But neither sanctions nor military threat seem to be working to deter the North Korean regime from pursuing its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
The chances of talks are also bleak as both the US and North Korea are not ready for any concessions. Washington is not ready for talks without Pyongyang giving up its nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang says it will never abandon nuclear program and will only hold discussions if there are no strings attached.
The test of Hwasong-12 has already shown that North Korea continues to develop more precise and diversified nukes and nuclear striking means. It has made the possibility of developing an ICBM that works reliably is much more real.
World powers should get over their petty differences and act before it is too late. It’s no more a secret that traditional deterrence strategies have failed to contain Kim’s nuclear program. There is a need of united front against North Korea. It’s in nobody’s interest at all to have a nuclear-capable North Korea.