hankyoreh

North Korea has announced that there will be no more six-party talks, and that the whole denuclearization process to date will be undone if the issue of its launching of a satellite is discussed at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) àdeemed at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has having repercussions. This is a new threat issued in response to recent moves by the United States and Japan to have sanctions enacted. The scenario reminds us of the situation in July 2006, when the UNSC adopted a resolution criticizing Pyongyang for launching a missile; North Korea followed up by testing a nuclear device in October of that year.

North Korea's ambassador to the United Kingdom says there "is no UN resolution saying we cannot engage in space development because we are a poor country." The ambassador is correct in asserting that it is rare for the UNSC to take issue with the launching of a satellite, but his government surely knows why the world is concerned about the situation. North Korea says it is conducting a test of a communications satellite, but the international community suspects it is launching a test of a long-range missile, and, given its nuclear capabilities, this would indicate a clear threat to surrounding nations. People are concerned less with the actual satellite launch, and more with the behavior of the North Korean government they find hard to trust.

The best way to resolve the issue right now would be for North Korea to halt the launch and actively engage in the six-party process in order to resolve the issue of its missile and nuclear capabilities. If it proceeds with the satellite launch, the political climate will come to an impasse. Dialogue will be delayed even further in the case of the satellite failing to enter its orbit and its booster rocket falling into the territorial sea or land of a neighboring country. Tensions could also arise rapidly if another country decides to fire missiles to intercept the projectile.

All to say, it is not desirable to overreact if North Korea's satellite launch does not directly harm a country. Finding an agreement on how to respond within the international community is one thing, but moreover, we need to find the appropriate way to change North Korea's behavior and not engage in a rash decision that could make the situation worse. In this spirit, the other countries in the six-party talks have rightly expressed their desire to see the process resume, and the US indicates it prefers dialogue with Pyongyang.

South Korea's approach will serve as a determining factor in resolving this situation. A former head of the Asia desk at the US Central Intelligence Agency said he expects Washington and Pyongyang to engage in dialogue even after the satellite launch, and that the Seoul government needs to take the lead approach and responsibly engage in talks with North Korea. In other words, the satellite launch may serve as a negative sign now, but the situation should be turned around and used as an opportunity to create a new framework for resolving issues pertaining to North Korea's missile and nuclear capabilities. Now is a time when we need wisdom to prevail over impulses to take reactionary measures

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]