North Korea continues on its dangerous path

Yesterday North Korea carried out its latest long-range missile launch amid an outcry from the international community. Pyongyang knows well that it can get away with provocations regarding its missile and nuclear ambitions. After all, this is not the first time the pariah state has defied the world in pursuit of it militarist policy. In April, to commemorate founding father Kim Il-sung’s birthday, it fired missiles, but further plans were called off.
Now, only seven months later, the country seems in a hurry to demonstrate to the world that it has the technology to threaten not just neighbouring countries. The new missile system can allegedly reach US territory and Southeast Asia. Asean should react strongly.
North Korea under its young leader Kim Jong-un has not changed. In fact, the country is upping the ante to show that it has the technological prowess to overcome international isolation.
For decades the country has pursued ties with countries that have nuclear potential, such as Iran. Of late, Myanmar has severed its military ties with North Korea, after mounting pressure from the US. It was alleged that an assistance programme dealing with nuclear and missile technology existed between the two countries.
It is interesting to note that North Korea has been using this strategy of testing missile technology and then crying out for humanitarian assistance. Every time a missile is launched, the North Korean population suffers because of the amount of money spent. Yesterday’s launch cost around US$1.7 billion, which could have fed the whole population for nearly year. But the Pyongyang regime is content to pour such massive sums into weapons.
As the population goes hungry, the North Korean leaders know that the international community will come to the rescue with food and other humanitarian assistance. Nobody wants to see the “hermit kingdom” collapse, since it would bring calamity to the Korean Peninsula.
In more ways than one, the international community is being held hostage by North Korea’s actions. International relief groups continue to provide food and other assistance even though Pyongyang pays no attention to world opinion.
It’s time Thailand joined the international community in condemning the missile launches by North Korea. Bangkok so far has been quite measured whenever it’s had to make statements regarding North Korea. The Pheu Thai government has close ties with Pyongyang.
The government should cooperate with the international community to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear ambition and begin to integrate with the rest of the region. International organisations also need to rethink their common strategy, which has served as an incentive for North Korea to continue with its rogue behaviour. There should be stricter conditions attached to food aid and other humanitarian assistance.
Otherwise, if foreign aid packages remain a blank cheque, it will encourage the country to pursue intimidation with impunity. In the future, the international community will be blamed for its failure to act decisively, and in time, to impose stronger sanctions against Pyongyang.