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Through analyzing this satellite photo

North Korea carried out a surprise nuclear test on the morning of Sept. 9. It came just eight months after its fourth one earlier this year. It was also reportedly the most powerful to date. It was all the more provocative for coming just after the countries of Northeast Asia and the nations involved in Korean Peninsula affairs unanimously sent Pyongyang a message of warning at the ASEAN and G20 summits. The nuclear test is also a declaration from an already isolated North Korea that it plans to face off against the international community. We strongly denounce Pyongyang’s actions.

The latest North Korean nuclear test broke a pattern of tests taking place roughly once every three years. One of the aims appears to have been to speed up the perfection of its nuclear technology. Back in March, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the North would “conduct a nuclear warhead detonation test and test-launch ballistic rockets capable of carrying warheads as soon as possible to boost the reliability of [its] nuclear attack capabilities.” What followed was a series of medium- and short-range ballistic missile and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test launches – and now another nuclear test.

In a statement released just after the test, Pyongyang stated it had “final confirmation of the structure, movement characteristics, performance and power of a standardized, normalized nuclear warhead” and was “now capable of producing as many different miniaturized, lightweight, and diversified nuclear warheads as we decide.” Its message was that it had achieved field-ready nuclear weapons, a level of technology on par with the nuclear powers of the world. While it is impossible to take all of that at face value, it is apparent where its aims lie. If things go the way Pyongyang hopes, the world will gain a dangerous nuclear power.

North Korea’s actions show all the dogmatism and self-righteousness of an isolated country. The regime may have strengthened its power base in some regards, but the rashness of a still-insecure Kim has also played a part. His aim may be to use nuclear technology to achieve internal unity and regime stability, with an eye toward leveraging recognition as a nuclear power into a “big deal” with the US. But no country around will accept this notion lying down. Indeed, the fourth nuclear test resulted in the heaviest North Korea sanctions to date. The latest test is sure to cause serious shock and anger among the international community.

Additional sanctions are inevitable. The existing UN Security Council resolution already contains a so-called “trigger clause” stating that additional significant measures will be taken automatically in the event of another North Korean nuclear test. In a telephone conversation after the fifth test, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her US counterpart Barack Obama agreed to use “every means available” to apply pressure on Pyongyang.

A number of types of sanctions have already been discussed. Possibilities include controls on imports and exports of items for livelihood purposes – which were omitted from previous resolutions – and a so-called “secondary boycott” involving sanctions against the companies, banks and governments of third countries that deal with the North. The US may consider once again designating North Korea as a state supporter of terrorism.

The key variable, as before, is China. While Beijing may be distancing itself from Seoul and Washington right now over US Forces Korea’s deployment of THAAD, it is also clearly opposed to North Korea’s nuclear program. Whatever happens, the international community’s response needs to be carefully coordinated. It is crucial to have concerted action rather than loud rhetoric.

Seoul, for its part, should focus on managing the situation on and around the Korean Peninsula, rather than looking solely toward tougher sanctions. Inter-Korean dialogue has fizzled out since the summer of 2015; since the start of this year, relations have gone from bad to worse. All contact between the South and the North has been severed. With things as they are, a localized clash could erupt at any moment.

Obviously, the chief reason for this state of affairs is Pyongyang’s obsession with nuclear development, but confrontational policies from Seoul have also played a role. The South Korean government needs to be stern yet restrained to prevent any military clashes from occurring between the two sides. Cooperating with neighboring countries is crucial, but the administration’s commitment is more important still.

In addition to an effective response to the latest nuclear test, we also need to be thinking about a possible solution for fundamentally addressing the North Korean nuclear issue. The very fact that these tests keep happening shows the failure of the existing approach. Seoul claims tougher sanctions are the only answer, but there’s only so much that kind of hard-line policy can achieve. Unless the North Korean regime collapses soon, harsh sanctions are likely to trigger a harsh backlash – indeed, the latest nuclear test could be seen as part of that.

As reckless as the Pyongyang regime may be, we cannot simply close off all opportunities for dialogue. Of the five nuclear tests to date, four happened while Seoul was carrying out hard-line North Korea policies. The other countries involved in Korean affairs have also sometimes questioned just how seriously Seoul is taking efforts to resolve the nuclear issue. The THAAD issue is one example.

The North Korean nuclear issue is now decades old. Only in the past few months has the situation rapidly deteriorated, though, and things seem to be suddenly entering their final stages this year. No solution will come from merely raging and denouncing and pressuring Pyongyang. We need to get past our antagonistic, Cold War-style logic. Instead of pinning vague hopes on a North Korea collapse scenario – an approach that is both dangerous and unrealistic – we need a strategic approach that can lead to a comprehensive solution.

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