This was Pyongyang’s first underground nuclear test. Although the DPRK News Agency - KCNA - confirmed that the test was successful with no radiation leak, the international community has expressed deep concern over the act. Accordingly, the Republic of Korea’s “Sunshine” policy which has been maintained over the years to restore peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas is in danger of breaking down. After the test, RoK President Rok Moo-huyn declared that the RoK could abandon this policy.

In the meantime, the international community’s efforts to resume six-party talks have remained in deadlock. Due to US economic and financial sanctions, the DPRK itself continues to face numerous economic difficulties and will become ever more isolated in the international arena.  

More dangerously, the nuclear test on October 9 will likely spark a nuclear arms race, threatening peace and security in Asia and the world at large.

As RoK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan put it, Pyongyang’s test may create a prerequisite for Japan to develop nuclear weapons, which will prompt Japan’s neighbours to join the arms race and increase their budgets for military spending.

Military experts also warned that if the DPRK has atomic weapons, other nuclear powers such as the US will resume their nuclear tests – a move that will lead to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

But why did the DPRK defy the international community’s warnings to conduct such a nuclear test? Undoubtedly, the test was meant to prove that the DPRK has nuclear potential and is capable of preventing any attacks from the US aimed at changing the current political system in this country.

Pyongyang has made it clear many times that they persist in nuclear tests only to press the US to lift its financial and economic sanctions against the North-east Asian country.

Pyongyang has also claimed that it is being treated unequally in international relations, given the fact that nine countries which have nuclear weapons and other countries which are developing nuclear programmes are not singled out for criticism.

In fact, the US has also failed to fulfil its commitment to nuclear weapon disarmament as it is developing new nuclear weapons which carry smaller nuclear heads but can be targeted more precisely than other weapons, even on concretised projects deep underground.

The slight criticism in international resolutions against other nuclear powers such as Israel and Pakistan has created unfairness in dealing with a number of countries which also possess nuclear weapons. Such a biased treatment in international relations is one of the reasons behind Pyongyang’s attempt to act like other countries. The October 9 nuclear test has raised doubts about whether it was the first or last underground nuclear test of the DPRK.    

The Yonhap news agency quoted sources from the RoK intelligence agency as saying Pyongyang would conduct another nuclear test after October 9. Experts said that the DRRK is coming hot on the heels of Pakistan which has conducted eight nuclear tests so far.

In order to build a nuclear free zone on the Korean peninsular, the US and relevant parties need to show goodwill towards the DPRK by helping it revamp its stagnant economy. Globally, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries, it is imperative to stop unfairness in international relations. Other countries with nuclear potential should strictly fulfil their commitments to reducing and destroying nuclear arsenals.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for a nuclear free world and this is also the aspiration of humankind.