Even as one could appreciate the technological advancement of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, an enviable edge which has ostensibly afforded her the opportunity to rub shoulders with the leading economies of the world; it is however important for North Korea to build its enviable prowess within the limits of UN Security Council’s provisions, in the interest of the global village.
No doubt, lovers of peace would want to pray the UN Security Council to look into the intimidating advances of the Asian giant, in order to avert its recent intimidating security threats. The country has recently threatened that it would launch a "merciless" attack if provoked by the US and its allies.
In a statement credited to North Korea: "If the US and its followers infringe upon our republic’s sovereignty even a bit, our military and people will launch a one hundred or one thousand fold retaliation with a merciless military strike."
President Obama in his swift reaction toed the right line by supporting a nuclear-free world; having noticed what North Korea is capable of doing. Although, North Korea might have good intentions for her missile programs, but if there are no guiding rules provided by UN, other countries might dwell on that, using it as a precedent to support their objectives, and that may influence damaging consequences to the world at large. Obama however described North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs as a "grave threat" to the world.
Consequently, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Viktor Popovkin, has said its military will shot down any missile heading for Russian airspace, and we all know that Russia shares a border with North Korea there is no way its operations will not pass through the airspace of Russia.
The North Korean warning came as reports in Japan and South Korea said the regime could be preparing to test launch two long-range ballistic missiles, possibly in retaliation against recent sanctions agreed by the UN Security Council.
I am not convinced if the stiffer measures imposed on North Korea by the UN Security Council is yielding any result. We are aware that North Korea was sanctioned by UN for its controlled nuclear explosion recently, including a ban on all weapons exports from North Korea and the import of all but small arms. The Security Council also called on member states to stop and search North Korean ships suspected of carrying nuclear and ballistic weapons technology.
It is worrisome to know that North Korea has responded to UN action by threatening to conduct more missile launches, enrich uranium and weaponise all its plutonium. There are also fears that it is preparing to carry out another nuclear test, its third since October 2006.
Reports in South Korea said a train capable of transporting intercontinental ballistic missiles had been spotted arriving at a launch site in Musudan-ri on the northeast coast, weeks after it had taken a missile to a newer site in the northwest.
Any tests would be likely to involve an improved version of the Taepodong-2 missile, which has a theoretical range of 4,800 km, enough to put it within striking distance of Alaska. In previous tests the missile has either failed or fallen harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean.
A senior US military official has warned that North Korea could pose a real threat to the US west coast in "three to five years" if its missile development continued unchecked.
I am making a clarion call to all the world leaders, UN as a whole, European Union, African Union and all other stakeholders, to appeal to North Korea in a manner that can bring peace and harmony to the entire world, because if these dangerous advances by North Korea are not checked its devastating consequences may lead to world war, which no country is praying for. And this is not the best time for any country of the world to engage in war, especially now that the solutions to the world alarming economic misfortunes are yet to be found.
emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com
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