North Korea carried out its first nuclear test

North Korea was reported to have carried out its first ever nuclear test about half an hour ago. This is despite the threat by US and calls against such a test by countries such as China and Japan.

It is hardly surprising to me that North Korea chose to carry out the test. No doubt North Korea is a rogue state but it had largely toe the line set up by the six party together with the US before Bush presidency. Since Bush had taken over, North Korea was pushed further and further into isolation until it has nothing to loose. To be sure North Korea has always tried to manipulate the talks with its rhethoric. Tired of such rhethoric, Bush probably felt that the best option is not to be held 'ransom' by North Korea and tried to put pressure by isolating the nation. Being pushed to a corner, and with nothing to loose, nuclear test becomes a viable option. China, the staunchest ally to the North Koreans, should shoulder some blame for not putting enough pressure on the North Koreans. However with the nuclear test carried out, looking for scapegoat is no longer important.

Iran is definitely following the events in North Korea closely. Iran is also having a confrontation with the US on its nuclear program. Sanctions are being planned on Iran if it refuses to give up its right for its nuclear program which it claimed is only for peaceful use. If the US and the world is unable to deal with the North Korea effectively, then Iran will see all the threats against it so far as empty threats.

Asians would probably have a quite sense of pride now that another Asian country has gone nuclear. Another Asian country standing up to the 'bullying' tactics of the US and Western world. The US must understand that Asians country has as much right as itself to have nuclear capabilities. Asian countries are independant countries with equal rights under the law of United Nations. If the countries are equal, why then can the West possess nuclear weapons and Asian countries cannot?

I can understand why the US and the West is worried about nuclear proliferation. Unlike the West, Asian countries tend to be more unstable. Hence there is always a risk that some terrorist can get hold of such nuclear weapons and threatened the world. This is a very real risk and is justified. However in order to contain nuclear proliferation, the West needs to understand and respect the Asians; Asians have their pride just like the West. If the West is threatened, wouldn't they want to stand up for themselves? Look at the Cuban crisis. The US was willing to risk a nuclear war at the expense of pressuring the Cubans and Russians to abandon its plan to place nuclear warheads on Cuban soil. This is precisely what North Korea and Iran is doing - standing up for itself. It is about national pride, although it is bordering on playing with fire.

Unlike showing off ones might with military hardware and such, having a nuclear arms has wide ranging implications. Nuclear weapon has short and long term implications. In the short term, it can destroy thousands or even millions of lives. Even those who survived a nuclear bomb will have to endure with cancers and other effects of radiation sickness. In the long run, the area bombed cannot be reinhabited for decades because of the effects of radiations.

Detonating a nuclear test has opened the Pandora's box. Once opened, it is very difficult to contain the after effects. It may even come back to haunt the very government that unleashed it. Take for example Pakistan. Part of the reason for the existence of the Taliban was because of the Afghan-Russian war. These people were known as 'freedom fighters' then but now they are variously called 'insurgents' and 'terrorists'. They are just victim of circumstance. For years the US has funded and armed them to fight the Russians, but when the Russians retreated, what is left for them is to fight the other 'aggressor' and that is the US. Hence for those who supported North Korea's right to carry out a nuclear test, be warned!

The ball is now with the US. Not only will its policy affect North Korea, it will also have wide implications for Iran. North Koreans had already proven that it can stand up to the US. Iran so far had not admit its nuclear ambitions, just nuclear for scientific research. If the North Koreans has 'won' this round against the US, Iran may just change its tune. Only time will tell whether Iran is true to its words.