How will North Korea`s successful nuclear weapon test affect the United States` policy in the region

HOW WILL NORTH KOREA 'S

SUCCESSFUL NUCLEAR WEAPON TEST

AFFECT THE UNITED STATES ' POLICY

IN THE REGION

North Korea has bounced back into the headlines due to its recent successful nuclear testing conducted on October 9 , 2006 . This has come hardly months after it tested its Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs ) in July 2006 , which had led to worldwide criticism . The new event has plunged the whole world into a flurry of condemnations . Coming on the heels of its withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT , it appears as if the Korean leader

Kim Jong II has thrown a challenge to countries which have been trying to restrain him . This testing puts extreme pressure on the United Nations , which now has to decide upon a strict action against the erring country

The US Government has always considered Iran and North Korea as part of a major axis of evil , of which they have warned the world . North Korea has been historically favored by both China and South Korea , in spite of their various regional differences . The chief reason behind this being that , any kind of problem that would arise in North Korea would lead to a huge refugee influx into both of these countries . A lesser evil as per them would be a nuclear powered North Korea . China and South Korea have found an ally in Russia in their support of North Korea . Though all these countries are under pressure from the US and the UN to convince North Korea to put an end to its nuclear plans , they have not been playing this game . North Korea has been a big market for Russian and Chinese goods . Sanctions against North Korea could put and end to the flourishing business

A dilemma that both the US and the UN face is that if no action is taken against North Korea , then other countries across the world could also be encouraged into similar activities . Non-nuclear North East Asian countries like Japan , South Korea , etc . may be forced to gear up to face a nuclear competent North Korea , leading to a major arms race in the entire region . Considering all the repercussions of imposing sanctions on North Korea , it is very much possible that both Russia and China will use their veto powers to strike down any action against North Korea

In a report submitted to the US Congress , R . Nicholas Burns , Under Secretary for Political Affairs mentions that there is a dual track approach comprised specifically of (1 ) sanctions aimed at penalizing and isolating the North while pressuring them to pursue diplomacy , and a (2 diplomatic track aimed at a negotiating North Korea 's denuclearization The sanctions also protect the U .S . and our allies from North Korea 's nuclear , WMD , and missile threats , including its proliferation of nuclear , WMD , and missile technologies

The diplomatic option is about discussing the situation during the resumption of the Six-Party talks of which the US , Russia , China , Japan South Korea and North Korea are members . Through...