[Editorial] In the wake of the nuclear test announcement

Two days ago, North Korea announced its plan to go ahead with a nuclear test. It is much more extreme brinkmanship than Pyongyang has tried in the past years, more a kind of "nuclear adventurism" that could easily prompt a crisis on the Korean peninsula, though some experts interpret the move as an attempt to draw more concessions from the U.S. Especially significant is the timing, as the announcement came amid ongoing efforts by the international community to resume the stalled six-party talks aimed at dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programs.

If it is not out of vicious intent, the North’s announcement for a nuclear test must have been a result of Pyongyang’s detachment from reality. The communist country should retract its pronounced plan immediately.

Few have doubted that the North has the capacity of conducting a nuclear test. But it is a whole new situation when the North readily pursues one, since related technologies could spread to other countries. Worse yet, hard-liners, especially in the U.S., will have more say and U.N.-led sanctions could also be on the table considering there is a consensus on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. All these will work as a hindrance for Seoul’s efforts of engaging with the North. Inter-Korean relations will also be cooled to a new low. The North should know that its pursuit of a nuclear test will only lead down the road to further isolation.

The international community, for its part, should remain calm. Things could get out of control if it adopts measures to push the North to the brink. After all, the North also wants diplomacy. In a statement, the North said, "We stick to the principle that we will not use nuclear weapons first."

Particularly worrisome is the argument in the U.S. that there is no use negotiating with the communist country. Though the announcement of the proposed test was a provocative act, the six-party talks are still the best way to resolve the issue, despite heightened tensions. Therefore, all focus should be paid on the so-called "common and comprehensive approach" adopted by the two leaders of South Korea and the U.S. during their recent summit in Washington. South Korea, the U.S. and China have already agreed upon the new approach, with details to be hammered out in the upcoming summit talks between Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing.

The North believes that the U.S is seeking economic sanctions as part of its hostile polices. That is the main reason why we should include measures designed to tackle the sanctions issue with a new approach. Unlike the U.S.’s insistence that its investigation into the North’s illegal activities are only part of law enforcement, suspicion is still lingering that it is part of attempt at a regime change in the communist country.

Political parties should also be cautious not to raise the stakes through rhetoric. It is not a time for discord but for discussion on how to come up with more plausible ways to deal with the North. Once a crisis sets in on the Korean peninsula, it would be very difficult to bring things under control. We all should do our best to find a way to resume the six-party talks based on dialogue.