In a claim that it conducted its first test of a nuclear weapon late Sunday night, North Korea effectively changed the face of Asian international relations and nuclear proliferation forever. The U.S. now faces a dire need for policy reform regarding North Korea, which is now threatening more, larger nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. maintains its position of zero communication with the rogue state.
At this point, it still isn’t clear if North Korea did test a nuclear device, although there was definitely a seismic event somewhere in its mountainous northeast region that experts unanimously agree was linked to a blast.
Nuke or not, North Korea’s brazen defiance of international diplomacy and anti-proliferation efforts are enough to constitute severe international action. Clearly, we need to consider the consequences that a nuclear North Korea has for Northeast Asia, especially after its ballistic missile tests this July. But that is only the regional consequence tied to this irresponsible threat from Pyongyang.
The U.S. response to this proliferation crisis however, should be prioritized. Our resources at this time are very limited and military action should not be an option.
In terms of global and national security, the U.S. needs to ensure without any doubt, that no nuclear property, physical or intellectual, leaves North Korea bound for the hands of terrorist buyers. This needs to be our primary concern. The U.S. should strongly encourage the U.N. Security Council to require North Korea to subscribe to the Proliferation Security Initiative, allowing the international community to inspect all in- and outgoing ship cargo.
There is still the issue of air traffic, which should be monitored in total by a shared international intelligence effort, facilitated by the U.N. Security Council and endorsed fully by China, whose airspace is the most likely avenue for such transport. The international community needs to know where every single plane leaving North Korea is going, and continue to monitor its cargo the moment it hits the ground.
Next come the sanctions. Currently, the U.S. and Japan are supporting sanctions against North Korea. There are also “hawk” voices that favor the implementation of sanctions so strong, they will effectually topple the North Korean regime. The severity of international sanctions is a fine line to walk. Should they strangle North Korea too tightly, the fallout could have devastating impacts for China and South Korea as scores of refugees flee impending starvation and poverty.
Given that China is North Korea’s main lifeline, supplying 60 to 70 percent of food and oil for its neighbor, it has the greatest leverage in regards to sanctions. China should use this opportunity to serve itself, along with the international and regional communities by implementing strong, yet appropriate sanctions on North Korea.
Furthermore, the current U.S. policy of not speaking to our enemies needs to be thrown out. Agreeing to communication with North Korea only through six-party talks involving South Korea, Japan, Russia and China is an inefficient approach to diplomacy, especially when North Korea is requesting direct communication with the U.S.