North Korea announces it will test nuclear weapon

By: Bill R. French
Contributing Writer

On Oct. 3, North Korea (DPRK) announced to the world it plans to test a nuclear weapon at a time of its choosing. The regime publicly announced it had developed nuclear weapons to the UN General Assembly in September 2005. The North Korean ambassador declared the decision to test a nuclear weapon was in response to “hostile U.S. policy.”

The DPRK is not allowed to have a nuclear weapons program in accordance with the 1994 Agreed Framework Treaty it is party to. The announced nuclear test is the latest escalation in a diplomatic drama that has been unfolding in East Asia and is considered to be a massive destabilizing move.

Japan called for the Security Council to agree on a statement demanding North Korea abort its planned test.

Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Hill warned that “we are not going to live with a nuclear North Korea.”

American ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, has called for the Security Council to adopt a resolution that would impose “serious consequences” under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter should the DPRK conduct a nuclear test. Chapter 7 allows for sanctions to be imposed by the Security Council which can be enforced with military force.

In past years, the United States has made it a priority to increase its military presence in East Asia. The Department of Defense is currently shifting its “center of gravity” to East Asia from Europe.

Since this policy shift, additional military power has been deployed to the region, and the United States has increased its level of strategic cooperation with Japan.

In response, North Korea test-fired six ballistic missiles on July 4, 2006. Among the missiles was the long-range Taepodong-2. The United States is believed to possibly be within the range of the Taepodong-2.

Despite this sword rattling, North Korea’s strategic delivery systems remain dubious. North Korea is not thought to have any nuclear warheads to equip its ballistic missile forces, nor the technical ability to produce any. However, it is not contested that the North Korean air force has the ability to drop an atomic bomb as far as Japan.

The impact of a North Korean nuclear test should not be underestimated. East Asia is experiencing increasing geopolitical pressures which are transforming its security environment rapidly.

China has been conducting what may be history’s most significant and effective military modernization program, causing great concern among some members in the region.

Japan has been considering, for some time, amending its constitution to allow for a formal and more powerful military. Current national law limits the Japanese military to a small Self Defense Force. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe favors the strengthening of his nation’s military and welcomes Washington’s program to increase military presence in the region.