North Korea never misses an opportunity to shock its neighbours and rivals. This impoverished, reclusive communist country made headlines yesterday by testing a hydrogen bomb which invited both condemnation and scepticism – condemnation for its brazen attempt to heighten tensions in an already tense region by beefing up its nuclear arsenal, and scepticism due to doubts over Pyongyang’s claim that it has tested a much more powerful hydrogen bomb this time because many experts are suggesting that the apparent yield was far too low for a thermonuclear device. North Korean state television said the republic’s first hydrogen bomb test had been ‘successfully performed at 10:00am (0130 GMT)’. The television also showed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s signed order -- dated December 15 -- to go ahead with the test, with a handwritten exhortation to begin 2016 with the “thrilling sound of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.” But it was a jarring sound to the whole world. Several countries rushed to condemn the action and expressed their deep concern, including China. The foreign ministry in Beijing said it firmly opposed the nuclear test, which was carried out “irrespective of the international community’s opposition.” The 15-member UN Security Council met for emergency talks and is said to be considering further sanctions against Pyongyang. North Korea’s three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 had triggered waves of UN sanctions.
Kim Jong-Un is known to live in a world of his own where international rules don’t apply. The threat of further sanctions and condemnations are unlikely to act as a deterrent in future and Kim’s actions are ratcheting up tensions in a region already riddled with problems. The neighbouring countries are quite capable of competing with Pyongyang, but they are not embarking on that perilous path because they don’t want to stoke up tension.
The unfortunate truth is that the world has failed to restrain Kim and the country’s dangerous military regime. Their frustration is becoming clear in the reaction of the world to the latest test. It is rarely that the world unites in condemnation and the North Korean leader has made this possible again. The reaction of China was especially noteworthy. Beijing has indicated that it would support new, punitive UN security council action as demanded by South Korea. According to reports, Kim didn’t inform China of the test in advance.
It’s not clear why North Korea decided to test a bomb now. But testing bombs is what Kim excels in. North Koreans are living in poverty and isolation and are forced to watch with intense despair as the rest of the world marches on. The international community too seems to be unable to do anything.
North Korea never misses an opportunity to shock its neighbours and rivals. This impoverished, reclusive communist country made headlines yesterday by testing a hydrogen bomb which invited both condemnation and scepticism – condemnation for its brazen attempt to heighten tensions in an already tense region by beefing up its nuclear arsenal, and scepticism due to doubts over Pyongyang’s claim that it has tested a much more powerful hydrogen bomb this time because many experts are suggesting that the apparent yield was far too low for a thermonuclear device. North Korean state television said the republic’s first hydrogen bomb test had been ‘successfully performed at 10:00am (0130 GMT)’. The television also showed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s signed order -- dated December 15 -- to go ahead with the test, with a handwritten exhortation to begin 2016 with the “thrilling sound of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.” But it was a jarring sound to the whole world. Several countries rushed to condemn the action and expressed their deep concern, including China. The foreign ministry in Beijing said it firmly opposed the nuclear test, which was carried out “irrespective of the international community’s opposition.” The 15-member UN Security Council met for emergency talks and is said to be considering further sanctions against Pyongyang. North Korea’s three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 had triggered waves of UN sanctions.
Kim Jong-Un is known to live in a world of his own where international rules don’t apply. The threat of further sanctions and condemnations are unlikely to act as a deterrent in future and Kim’s actions are ratcheting up tensions in a region already riddled with problems. The neighbouring countries are quite capable of competing with Pyongyang, but they are not embarking on that perilous path because they don’t want to stoke up tension.
The unfortunate truth is that the world has failed to restrain Kim and the country’s dangerous military regime. Their frustration is becoming clear in the reaction of the world to the latest test. It is rarely that the world unites in condemnation and the North Korean leader has made this possible again. The reaction of China was especially noteworthy. Beijing has indicated that it would support new, punitive UN security council action as demanded by South Korea. According to reports, Kim didn’t inform China of the test in advance.
It’s not clear why North Korea decided to test a bomb now. But testing bombs is what Kim excels in. North Koreans are living in poverty and isolation and are forced to watch with intense despair as the rest of the world marches on. The international community too seems to be unable to do anything.
