North Korean Nuclear Test Could Be Game Changer

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

North Korean Nuclear Test Could Be Game Changer – Report

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 12.05.2014

North Korea may be preparing a fourth nuclear test, which could deepen the conflict between the two Koreas and drastically change the state of international relations among the world’s nuclear powers, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The new test may involve a plutonium-based device never used by the regime before, which, according to South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, could be a "game-changer."

According to the Arms Control Association, North Korea is estimated to have enough plutonium for approximately up to eight bombs.

"If North Korea carries out a fresh nuclear test or fires mid-range missiles, the international community should slap strong sanctions on Pyongyang," Byung-se told EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton during a visit to the UN, according to the Korea Times.

While in New York, Byung-se took part in talks on North Korea with representatives from the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

Some UN and US sanctions on North Korea are already in place but have had little impact on the centralized economy of the closed country.

Pyongyang withdrew from the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in April 2003, and then held nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, as well as multiple missile launches.

According to the UN Security Council resolutions from 2006 and 2009, North Korea must refrain from nuclear testing.

The fourth test aims at miniaturizing the nuclear device to fit on a rocket, which would be able to reach the United States, which North Korea regards as its main enemy.

The test could be the final straw in relations with the US, as well as Japan and South Korea. In that case, North Korea’s only ally, China, will be cornered, and its leaders may be more likely to support sanctions.

Topics: Asia, DPRK

Other news:

Hungary Enacts Law to Expand Nuclear Power With Russian Aid

Hungary’s president has signed a bill into law to expand a nuclear power plant in the country with Russian assistance.

Hungary Lawmakers OK Russia Nuclear Plant Deal

Russia will provide Hungary a loan of up to 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion) - around 80 percent of construction costs.

Russia to Lend Hungary $13.7Bln for Nuclear Plant

The deal was announced during a state visit to Moscow by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and was hailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Hero of the day

Questions for Jerry Hopwood

We are currently working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on this approach, which was submitted in response to their February 2012 call for alternative proposals. We appreciate that the UK is in the early stages of their policy development activities and are pleased to be involved in such important work.

INTERVIEW

Yanko Yanev
Unfortunately, we live in this age of narrow political thinking. Each of our politicians think how to survive, whether he will be the next convocation of the parliament or the government or not.

OPINION

Joint Plan of Action
The goal for these negotiations is to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iran's nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek or develop any nuclear weapons.