The world’s nuclear brat

The world’s nuclear brat

Philadelphia Inquirer: North Korea is like the baby who knows adults pay it more attention when it cries. Trouble is, ignoring a bawling infant can be extremely risky. Especially after it emits a disturbing scream like Monday’s underground test of a nuclear bomb.

To make sure the world was paying attention, North Korea followed up Monday’s blast with at least five tests of short-range missiles. The adult response was immediate and appropriate.

Even China rebuked its foster child, asking the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to “honor its commitment to denuclearization.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry also urged a return to the six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear program.

The talks, which also include the United States, Russia, Japan and South Korea, stalled in 2006 after North Korea broke a year-old promise to stop nuke tests. It later repented, began dismantling a nuclear facility, and was subsequently removed from the U.S. terror watch list after it agreed to allow verification of the destruction of its nuclear capability.

But that was then, and this is now. North Korea, predictably mercurial, is again testing nukes.

Quick condemnation

The 15-member U.N. Security Council, currently chaired by Russia, unanimously condemned North Korea. Economic sanctions are being discussed, as well as a U.S.-led global interdiction program to make sure North Korean ships aren’t carrying weapons of mass destruction.

That idea has North Korea threatening to attack South Korea if it participates in any ship interception. Accustomed to the episodic belligerence of its neighbor, the South has remained calm.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that a new U.N. resolution that includes sanctions was being developed. “We and our partners need to agree on a package that will cause North Korea to change its course,” she said.

It’s important that the “partners” include Russia and, in particular, China — North Korea’s principal benefactor. Both will be needed to get North Korea to follow nonproliferation rules.

Other countries with their own nuclear ambitions are watching the response to North Korea’s latest provocation — especially Iran.