North Korea's young despot, Kim Jong-il: It is thought that his regime's

third nuclear test, which may have been a miniaturized, uranium-based

device that could fit on the head of a rocket, was timed to send Obama

a message: It's time for America to sign a Korean War peace accord.

Nuclear Test to Send Obama Message on State of the Union Eve (Asahi Shimbun, Japan)

"The third nuclear test, coupled with the North's successful missile launch in December, was designed to deliver a stronger message to Washington than anything it sent before. Conducting it on the eve of Obamas State of the Union address adds even more of a punch. ... To add more meaning to the timing of this third nuclear test, February 16 is the birthday of Kim Jong-un's father, the late leader Kim Jong-il."

By Dr. Shunji Hiraiwa*

February 13, 2013

Japan - Asahi Shimbun - Original Article (English)

President Barack Obama delivers the 2013 State of the Union address: He dedicated part of one paragraph to North Korea. KOREA CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY [STATE-RUN]: North Koreans tell the regime's media that they are happy about the nation's third nuclear test, Feb. 12, 00:00:50

On the eve of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, North Korea's Feb. 12 underground nuclear test is meant to send a strong message to the United States.

Since Jan. 22, after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution tightening sanctions and condemning Pyongyangs December long-range missile launch, the North has used strong and defiant rhetoric, with its youthful leader Kim Jong-un, expressing his firm resolve.

If the Norths real purpose for conducting a nuclear test is to demonstrate its nuclear capabilities to the world, it could have held it in January, after the adoption of harsher U.N. sanctions. But it waited for weeks to see how the United States would respond to its intention to conduct a "higher-level" nuclear test.

Although the North has made clear it won't come to the negotiating table to seek a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it has signaled a readiness to join talks aimed at securing peace and stability there.

[Editor's Note: In January, after Pyongyang's successful three-stage missile test and new U.N. Security Council sanctions, the Kim Jong-un regime, through its government mouthpiece the Korea Central News Agency, said: "The DPRK has come to the final conclusion that denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula will be impossible without the realization of global denuclearization, as it has become clear that America's policy of hostility toward the DPRK remains unchanged."]

The North Korean regime now seeks a U.S. guarantee of its long-term survival through replacement of the 60-year-old armistice which ended the 1950-53 Korean War with a permanent peace deal.

But Washington has not responded.

The third nuclear test, coupled with the North's successful missile launch in December, was designed to deliver a stronger message to Washington than anything it sent before. Conducting it on the eve of Obamas State of the Union address adds even more of a punch.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

Pyongyang remembers President George W. Bush's harder line, when he labeled North Korea, Iran and Iraq an axis of evil in his 2002 State of the Union address.

[Editor's Note: The only mention of North Korea in President Obama's address is contained in this paragraph: "Of course, our challenges don't end with al-Qaeda. America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the worlds most dangerous weapons. The regime in North Korea must know that they will only achieve security and prosperity by meeting their international obligations. Provocations of the sort we saw last night will only isolate them further, as we stand by our allies, strengthen our own missile defense, and lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats."]

Too add more meaning to the timing of this third nuclear test, February 16 is the birthday of Kim Jong-un's father, the late leader Kim Jong-il.

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: With Sanctions, Seoul 'Traitors' Inch Closer to 'Grand War'

Korea Central News, North Korea: Security Council Must Apologize for Being 'American Marionette'

Korea Times, South Korea: Seoul Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Test

The Hankyoreh, South Korea: North Korea May be Developing Hydrogen Bomb

Korea Herald, South Korea: North Korea Device 'Weaker than Feared'

Korea Herald, South Korea: Seoul Citizens Express Concern Over Nuke Test

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Unimaginable Punishment if Satellite Intercepted

Korea Central News, North Korea: Obama Misperceives Peaceful Satellite Launch

China Daily, China: Obama Makes North Korean Rocket Launch More Likely

Mainichi Shimbun, Japan: Nuclear-Armed Japan is Not Out of the Question

The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Nuclear Summit Must Resist Nuclear Power Mafia

Yonhap, South Korea: Obama Warns North Launch will Bring Greater Isolation

News, Switzerland: Obama's Best Option for Koreas: Send Envoy to Pyongyang

News, Switzerland: Pyongyang Makes a Play for Direct Ties with Americans

Opera Mundi, Brazil: Can America Secure a North Korean Nuclear 'Reversal'?

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Imperialist Sanctions 'Should Be Smashed'

Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia: 'Russia's Place in a Changing World,' By Vladimir Putin

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'U.S. Warmongers' Foolish to Hope to Change North

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: Why the Kim Jong-un Regime is 'Doomed'

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: U.S.,China Must Resist Urge to Meddle after Kim's Death

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany: Secret of America's Counterfeit 'Supernotes'

Korean Central, North Korea: The U.S. 'Should Be Cursed' By All Koreans

Korean Central, North Korea: 'Japanese Militarists' Prepare for Reinvasion of Korea

Like Worldmeets.US on Facebook

Missile launches and nuclear tests are stratagems that Kim Jong-un adopted from his father, and by succeeding in both, the young leader may have also intended to boost the prestige of his regime.

And while the North's economic dependence on its main ally China is deepening, Beijing failed to keep Pyongyang from proceeding with this test of a miniaturized nuclear device. China has consistently opposed the Norths nuclear weapons program.

But Japan, the United States and South Korea cannot expect China to go out of its way to cooperate on reining in the Norths atomic activity. A rising military power in the region, China has escalated its standoff with Japan over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a long-running sovereignty dispute.

Beijing isn't fully on good terms with Washington, either.

China is unlikely to do anything more than try and arrange further talks between the North and United States, which it regards as the appropriate response. After all, the United States is considered the most influential of all nations on the fate of the North. and in any case, Pyongyang must have factored in China's response before proceeding with its nuclear detonation.

The success of the missile launch and the use of a miniaturized and lighter nuclear device allows the North to pose more of a threat to the region and the United States.

Meanwhile, South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye will take the oath of office on Feb. 25. The Norths nuclear test can be seen as a slap in the face before the Park Administration even has a chance to form.

Prospects for progress in bilateral ties are grim now as Park suggested assistance on condition that the North opts out of nuclear testing.

*Dr. Shunji Hiraiwa is a professor of Korean studies at Kwansei Gakuin University.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus

Posted By Worldmeets.US Feb. 13, 2013, 2:43am