N. Korea made East Asian countries stunned when it fired the a salvo of short-range test missiles into the Sea of Japan.
The move is viewed significantly, as it occurred amid the continued standoff between IAEA and N. Korea on the issue of dismantling the nuclear reactors in return of economic appraisals i.e. US $ 25 million and other material aids. North Korea, however, missed April 14 dead line set to close its nuclear reactors.
South Korea and national Security Council in Washington, however, called the launch of short-range missiles as an annual military or a routine exercise that N. Koreans do from time to time. On the other hand, Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has expressed serious concerns over the issue and threatened to take actions if N. Korea will not dismantle its Nuclear reactors soon. Shinzo Abe said-
We have been saying that our patience has come to its limit.
Present power show of came before the divided Koreas are to hold high-level reconciliation talks in Seoul in next week. However, an official in the South’s unification ministry said-
It’s not likely to have any immediate effect on inter-Korean relations.
N. Korea’s power show is just a counter buff to S. Korea’s celebrations of newly acquired Aegis radar system from America that will enhance S. Korean ability to locate and shoot down aircraft and missiles.
Finally, UN and European Union should take some diplomatic steps to curb N. Korea’s nuclear strife and particularly put some restrictions on the proliferation of nuclear expertise to other countries. The need of the hour is to kick start the Feb 2007 accord under which North Korea agreed to return to the NPT and discard all its nuclear material, weapons and technologies.
Source: Telegraph
