North Korea defied the international community and tested its
first nuclear weapon Monday morning.
Although it had publicized its intentions last week, the news of
the test came as a bombshell, in disregard of warnings from the
United Nations Security Council.
A presidential statement from the Council urged North Korea not
to undertake such a test and to refrain from any action that might
aggravate tension.
North Korea's latest maneuver has invited condemnation and
concern from the international community.
China reacted with emphatic disapproval to the North Korea's
nuclear test, which will leave international non-proliferation
efforts in tatters.
An act showing no restraint, the test has made more
unpredictable the complexities of the current situation on the
Korean Peninsula.
The latest development is definitely not favorable for North
Korea. It will not help the country address the stated concerns,
particularly with regard to strengthening its security.
?
Rather, North Korea should abide by the necessary approach of
diplomatic channels several countries have worked on.
China began brokering a peaceful compromise in 2003, when the
United States accused North Korea of covertly building atomic
weapons and North Korea pulled out of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
The Six-Party Talks are a diplomatic forum aimed at making a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
?
At the previous talks among the six countries China, North Korea,
Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States they reached their
first-ever joint statement, in which North Korea agreed to abandon
all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in exchange
for energy aid and a security guarantee.
In conducting the nuclear weapon test Monday, North Korea went
back on its word in the statement and disregarded the guiding
principles on dealing with the nuclear issue. Its move will leave
an early resumption of the talks difficult.
This, however, should not necessarily mean that the
international community should discard the efforts to resume the
talks.
It is of dire necessity to make the attempt, especially at this
moment.
We suggest that North Korea stop more excessive actions that
will push the situation on the Korean Peninsula to a more dangerous
edge.
What the country can and should do is to return without
preconditions to the Six-Party Talks that have been seeking a
peaceful solution to the crisis stemming from its nuclear
program.
The international community's call to North Korea should not
fall on deaf ears. The parties concerned should work on the
resolution of non-proliferation concerns and to facilitate a
peaceful and comprehensive solution through political and
diplomatic efforts.
Before a solution is worked out, cool-headedness and restraint
are a prerequisite.
(China Daily October 10, 2006)
