Time to see the big picture of Korean nuke issue
- By Fan Jishe
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 8, 2016
These questions are not only necessary, but also worthwhile to ask, at least in the short term. However, looking back into history, the DPRK has clearly demonstrated its resolution to develop the ability to have real nuclear weapons.
The country claimed to have nuclear ability in early 2005, did the first nuclear test in October 2006, announced breakthroughs in uranium enrichment in 2009, showed U.S. visitors its uranium enrichment factory in Yongbyon in November 2010, announced that it had nuclear bombs in December 2015, and claimed it tested a hydrogen bomb on January 6, 2016.
Slowly but surely, the country has made progress in the past decade in its research and development of nuclear weapons. It has proved to the world with sufficient facts that it does have the ability and desire to have nuclear weapons.
After it has acquired the knowledge necessary for plutonium separation and uranium enrichment, and completed four nuclear tests, it is meaningless to question its technological, material or financial capability to build its own nuclear arsenal, let alone its willingness to have nuclear weapons.
The DPRK is reshaping the game among relevant countries in the region, and even the geopolitics and regional security in Northeast Asia. The related countries have to increase their diplomatic input in solving the challenge. A nuclear-armed DPRK will necessarily encourage confrontation with the U.S. dominated security order in the region, and gives new motivation to America to increase its input in developing and deploying a new missile defense system in Northeast Asia. The U.S. will have new and powerful reasons to strengthen its military deployment in the region, and expand its military cooperation with its allies. These consequences are much more worthwhile topics than the questions focusing on the DPRK only.
One thing is for sure. As long as the U.S. does not end its extremely antagonistic policies towards the DPRK, the latter will not suspend or give up the development of nuclear weapons.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/fanjishe.htm
This post was first published in Chinese and translated by Li Yang.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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