The world has no other option but to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. Kim Jong-un has a very certain avenue of justification for repeatedly testing nuclear devices and missile delivery systems. The Security Council has imposed tough sanctions on N Korea and this is what has emboldened the hermit kingdom. It should here be for the sake of argument agreed by the world that N Korea is not dependent on any country even China, which seems to be the closest to this regime and which will become ever more despotic and dangerous if the world fails to recognize it as a nuclear power. It is well known that Israel has nuclear bombs of all types and they have the tacit support of the US. Why should Israel be made an exception to the rule, when N Korea are under punitive sanctions, while Israel is an undeclared nuclear state that none in the world contests? Double standards of this sort are exactly the stuff for fomenting conflict and the world will be a better place to live in if North Korea is given its due recognition as a nuclear state. Another truth is that despite the sanctions, the leadership and the military in North Korea, which numbers over one million is not affected by the sanctions, however it is the common man that is burdened. Further sanctions will only lead to an explosive situation which could endanger the world. World leaders should not wait until the situation gets out of control but act now so as to prevent an ever looming spectre of conflict and destabilization of the balance of power in the world. Bravado is not what is wanted now but a cool calculated approach to save the world of almost seven billion people. Show much needed restraint, not one-upmanship.
Elvidio Miranda, via email
