North Korea: Attention seeking or a real threat?

After being ridiculed and criticized, North Korea recently launched seven missiles off its east coast to further express their resentment over the United Nations sanctions and international disapproval.

Angered by the criticisms of the United Nations and the United States over their previous claims of sending a satellite into orbit, North Korea has taken drastic measures to grab international attention.  Including pulling out of six party talks in the U.N. after it tightened sanctions against three North Korean companies linked to providing the military with support, materials and supplies. And just recently, the nation marked the U.S. Independence Day with more missile launches.

This threat to the international community has heightened diplomatic tensions.  In all stubbornness, North Korea has also said it would conduct more ballistic missile tests and rebuild nuclear facilities that were dismantled during the six party negotiations with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

North Korea’s Yongbyon reactor, which had been in tact until it was shut down in 2007 under an international deal that promised North Korea aid and diplomatic concessions, is now being said to be re-lauched.  The closing of the nuclear reactor was considered a major breakthrough for North Korea in hopes that it would open up a democratic relationship with the western community.

News of the re-launching efforts comes after President Barack Obama had earlier announced a proposal for a world free of nuclear weapons in his first presidential trip to Europe.  Now the U.S. and the United Nations have concerns over North Korea’s missile launching capabilities and threats to restart a nuclear program which also includes a uranium enrichment program and the making of weapon-grade plutonium.

However, critics are skeptical and say North Korea constantly makes threats as a survival mechanism.  It’s a way for them to grab international attention and recognition.  Some experts also say that the threats could be false.  Some say it would take months to restart its reprocessing facilities and even up to a year to turn on the main reactor.

In the past, during the Clinton administration, Clinton promised aid and two light water civilian reactors in return for closing Yongbyon.  However, Kim Jong Il began new nuclear work.  With the Bush administration, Kim doubled his efforts and exploded a device inside a mountain in October of 2006.  The infamous North Korean military leader sold Yongbyon to both Clinton and Bush, and is now trying his cards on Obama.

Not only has North Korea made threats about restarting its nuclear reactor and continuing to defy international sanctions and launch missiles, the nation has also decided to cause further tension by sentencing two arrested American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  The two American journalists were arrested on March 17 along the North Korean and Chinese border.

What is the next step for the U.S?  What is the next step for the U.N?

The U.S. and U.N. need to continue to offer negotiation talks with North Korea.  The possession of nuclear weapons capabilities has become a serious issue that threatens the entire international community.  However, if North Korea continues to refuse talks, stronger resolutions and sanctions must be taken.