North Korean provocation needs to be condemned

Credit must be given to the government of President Lee Myung-bak for acting in a calm and retrained manner after the sinking of a South Korean warship on March 26. Further investigation by the authorities and international experts has now determined the cause of the sinking of the warship, which killed 46 soldiers. They said it was caused by a North Korean torpedo. Hours after that verdict, the international community, led by the US, strongly condemned Pyongyang's provocative action. However, Pyongyang has denied all allegations. The conclusion has again raised the spectre of a potential conflict between the two Koreas.

What could be North Korea's motive for such high-risk manoeuvring? The most important reason seems to be to divert global attention away from the Korean peninsula and the current economic difficulties of North Korea. The world's most isolated regime has suffered tremendously from more than six decades of economic mismanagement, which has driven ordinary people to risk their lives crossing the border into China. Thousands of asylum-seekers have ended up on the Thai border in the past decades. This trend continues unabated.

Pyongyang continues its intransigence despite rigorous UN-imposed sanctions since last summer. It has exported nuclear technology and components from its dismantled Yongbyong nuclear facilities abroad, especially to Burma. The international community has expressed serious concern that the proliferation of nuclear weapons, especially by rogue states around the world could increase. The recent Nuclear Summit held in Washington DC highlighted this trend.

Pyongyang's ambition to build a nuclear arsenal is well known. Many rogue states are learning from its experience in bargaining with superpowers. One of these rogue countries is Burma, Thailand's western neighbour. The increased cooperation on nuclear technology between the two countries troubles many nations, including the US, which has closely monitored the situation. During his recent visit to Rangoon, Kurt Campbell, Assistant US Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, was blunt in telling leaders of the Burmese junta to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1874, which prohibits any weapons trade with North Korea. Burma's nuclear ambition is now being investigated by international experts. Growing evidence suggests Burma has a long-term nuclear weapon's programme.

For decades, the survival of isolated and tightly-controlled North Korea has depended largely on leader Kim Jong-il, and his eccentric behaviour and diplomacy. So far, he and his country have managed to get away scot-free several times because of their nuclear capacity and their on-and-off threats of firing missiles across the Sea of Japan, and invading South Korea. Nobody wants to pick a fight with a regime like this. It is this kind of erratic behaviour that has kept stability on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding environment on the edge of a precipice.

South Korea has so far managed this dangerous relationship with North Korea with good sense. Since the Korean War, the peninsula has not returned to the doomsday scenario as many pundits had predicted. Economic and humanitarian assistance continues to flow from the South despite the harsh policies of the North. Worsening economic conditions will also affect the overall well-being of South Koreans. But Seoul cannot remain passive if North Korea continues its aggression. The international community, especially Asia, must impress upon Pyongyang not only that such a policy would not work, but also condemn it. It would be reasonable to expect some retaliatory measures from South Korea and further sanctions imposed by the international community for Pyongyang's actions.