the test blast

Following the 'successful' nuclear weapons test by North Korea, i accidentally found this quite 'witty' cartoon by Steve Bell.
Enjoy!

On North Korea and The Nuclear Test

It was just a regular foggy-cloudy morning in birmingham in autumn. Waking up, brushing teeth, washing face, and starting to cook. Having had breakfast (err...more like a "brunch", i s'pose), i sat in front of my laptop and - as usual - started to check the news from all the usual sources online. From the Guardian to the Economist, moving on to BBC News, CNN, and then i ended my ritual by reading the news on World Polical.com. All of them seemed to presenting the not-so-shocking news on the North Korea's claim of its nuclear test. The most disturbing thing for me is a piece of lines included on the Guardian saying that a North Korea's Central News Agency stating the test as a TRIUMPH. They added that it was "a historic event that brought happiness to their military and people." Furthermore, they believed that the test would contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region. This part did leave me dumbfounded in a split second. And then i started to wonder, How oh how...such a devilish thing like a nuclear would play a role in peacekeeping?! It doesn't make any sense for me, seriously... And i'm not even an expert in security studies nor in international peacekeeping as i just skipped those optional modules from the list last year. Somehow, all the more, the idea is just too ridiculous!. I badly wanna ask the North Korean leaders, how would nuclear weapons be a solution to those frictions we've been facing in the world? The poverty, for instance, would nuclear thingy be something helpful for poor lots? Like, "you hungry? fancy some nuclear?". COME ON!

One of the 'object' of my dissertation topic, a country known as the emerging economy power, China was said to be angry as Mr. Shi Yinhong, a foreign affairs expert at Renmin Uni in Beijing said "This action severely challenges the security of stability of east Asia as well as China's national interests" (the Guardian).

China, alongside other 4 UN permanent security council members plus Japan was said to hold discussions on how to impose the possibility sanctions to North Korea as a result of the nuclear weapons test. They haven't decided anything yet, though they've already got some options on the way. According to the news, besides the divided voice, what's made it tough for the 6 countries to achieve a united voice for a resolution over the nuclear sanctions is the further impact of the resolution. I assume that, now that North Korea is pretty confident of the nuclear weapons they possess, it's a bit risky to mess with them, innit? I can even smell the US fear already. All in all, the world is now back to face the same old devilish enemy: The Nuclear Weapons... Nothing new, but still dangerous - Probably more?.

I can't even start to explain my conclusion on the topic. Given the silliness and the senseless of the North Korea's action along with their reasons. Sod it! Hence, i'm just gonna leave it to you all. Just read the news, so you can develop your own perspective by exercising your brain.

Links:
- The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,,1891076,00.html
- The Economist:
http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8018953
- The BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6032525.stm
- The World Political:
http://www.worldpolitical.com/
- The CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/09/korea.nuclear.test/index.html