Early yesterday morning, North Korea once again defied the international community with its launch of a long-range missile. The move immediately drew international criticism and the UN Security Council indicated that it would meet in an emergency session to decide the next move against the leadership in Pyongyang following requests from the US, Japan and South Korea. While the reclusive and paranoid neo-Stalinist leadership in the North Korean state heralded the launch as a scientific breakthrough, and said the rocket was carrying a satellite into orbit, the act is a dangerous and deliberate provocation and flies contrary to international sanctions and agreements prohibiting any such move by Pyongyang.
The launch came just weeks after the regime detonated a subterranean nuclear device in an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula. As a direct result of and response to yesterday’s launch, the South Korean government said it was installing a counter-shield against ballistic attacks. Previously, Seoul had been reluctant to do so lest it antagonise China, its largest trading partner.
It’s difficult to understand the reasoning of the North Koreans in continuing to fly in the face of the international community. Indeed China, who had managed to keep some reins on the regime of Kim Jong-il, has seen its influence wane since Kim Jong-un succeeded his father in December 2011. Yesterday’s launch was met with a statement of regret from Beijing — who also urged calm.
Clearly, North Korea’s actions are that of a rogue leadership intent on increasing tensions for its own political gains — but what it has to gain is uncertain. What it will achieve are further and tighter sanctions, increased isolation and less patience for any more activity. And rightly so. It has only itself to blame.
