The Meaning Of The Test

Everyone now knows that North Korea detonated a smaller nuclear device underground in defiance of the world community.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it had detected a 4.2 magnitude tremor in North Korea at 10:35 local time (0135 GMT). The Japan Meteorological Agency said its data showed a tremor took place around Gifu, on the peninsula's northeast coast around 110 km (70 miles) from the Chinese border.

But what does it mean and what steps should be taken?

President Bush said the "United States condemns this provocative act." The UN security council met once already and will meet this afternoon; the UN prepares to review a US draft resolution. And no one on the security council has made any noise of support for North Korea. Oddly enough both China and Russia have condemned the test.

But there's more to the mix -- politics, naturally. South Korea, Taiwan, Japan -- are extremely concerned about this test because, of course, the likelihood of nuclear tipped missiles pointed in a given direction -- well, that direction will be at them -- and us as in US. North Korean missiles potentially targeted at Russia or China? Not a chance.

Kim Jong-il wants to force reunification with South Korea. And the only way to achieve this end is militarily. NK already invaded South Korea once and Seoul was demolished. KJi has an army of more than a million soldiers and they predominantly exist near the southern border. Would KJi think twice about going nuclear against the south? I am not confident he has the ability to understand the ramifications of such a move and that places him into the "beyond dangerous" category.

KJi's NK has a rancid economy and hundreds of thousands of his countrymen and women have perished due to starvation, executions and in "labor" camps. With North Korea now being, what, the 8th Nuclear Nation? -- and dying for cash, what is the "logical extension?" I fear the logical extension may be for NK to sell one of their upcoming nuclear devices to another rogue state or, worse, to terrorist factions such as al Qaeda, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority -- you name it.

What should be done?

Some will consider "economic sanctions" too harsh, due to the overall poor condition of the North Korean populace. I would suggest that is only a place to begin.

We should, in addition, make it clear that we are monitoring NK's airspace, and any missile sites indicating preparations for launch will be hit in a pre-emptive strike.

We should also make it clear that future missile launches, now that North Korea is a nuclear power, will be considered an active attempt at a nuclear strike against the surrounding states (more than likely South Korea) and perhaps even the United States, and will be met with military retaliation up to and possibly including a nuclear response.

And where is China in all of this?

I am unsure. I am, however, sure that China is doing its overt and covert best to ensure the diminishment of the United States; some believe that there will be a war between ourselves and China. We have sworn to defend Taiwan -- and China has sworn to bring Taiwan into line.

China wants to be the world Superpower and has expanded its military shockingly. It too is becoming not only a military powerhouse but an economic one and will, resultingly, more and more want to confront us not only in the petroleum market but with petroleum-producing nation-states. It has to; there is no other option. And do not think that it is not eyeballing the oil under Russia. A Russian/China link? Japan went to war with us when we limited their oil and steel. And China?

These are dangerous, dangerous times. But sooner or later we will have to fish or cut bait. How will we meet this clear and obvious threat and the overarching global threats?

BZ