North Korea's Kim Jong-Un Detonates Nuke

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Feb. 12, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                         

           Giving President Barack Obama something to talk about in his State of the Union Speech, 28-year-old North Korean President Kim Jong-Un sent shockwaves through the Korean Peninsula, conducting an underground nuclear test.  Banned by the U.N. from nuclear testing or long-rang missile development, Kim proved he’s his late father’s son, provoking South Korea and the West.  While the bouffant hairdoed Kim Jong-Il feasted on Beluga Caviar and Dom Peringnon while pursuing his nuclear ambitions, his pudgy-faced son follows the same tradition.  Like his deceased father, Kim Jong-Un seeks A-bombs to blackmail South Korea and the West into making more economic and political concessions.  Moving heaven-and-earth to 4.9 on the Richter Scale, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded seismic activity corresponding to a moderate quake or a six-to-seven-kiloton nuclear blast.

             When an international nuclear test-monitoring agency confirmed the location of the blast was roughly equivalent to underground tests in 2006 and 2008, it became obvious that Kim Jong-Un was up to no good.  While Obama may mention Iran’s nuclear enrichment programs tomorrow night, he’ll need to address the North Korean nuke test that’s rattling nerves on the Korean Peninsula.  U.S. and South Korean forces battled the pesky North Korea to a virtual standoff in 1953, eventually signing an ineffectual armistice July 27, 1953.  U.S. and South Korea remember well the 36,574 and 137,899 deaths, respectively, at the hands of North Korean and Red Chinese forces.  Prospects of another bloody standoff has kept U.S. and South Korean officials cautions over nearly 60 years.  Three generations of Korean leaders, including Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un know the history.

             South Korean officials confirmed that the epicenter of seismic activity was precisely the site of North Korea’s underground nuclear testing.  “We’ve been informed by the South Koreans that there’s been a [North Korean] nuclear test,” confirmed an anonymous U.N. Security Council diplomat.  When Barack speaks before a joint session of Congress it’s no accident that Kim chose the day before his big speech to detonate the nuclear blast.  While Israel seeks to neutralize Iran’s nuclear program, North Korean represents a far greater clear-and-present danger.  Much of Israel’s speculation stems from Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, doubting Iran’s assertions about only seeking electrical power and medical isotopes.  Unlike Iran, North Korea detonated a nuclear device before Barack’s State-of-the Union Message.  Some mention of North Korea is now inevitable.

              Unnamed Western sources confirmed a “clear explosion-like characteristics” to the North Korean seismic activities.  White House and U.N. members of the Security Council walk a dangerous tightrope trying to get China on board to discipline Kim’s rogue state.  Had China not committed 1,350,000 troops and suffered about 152.000 casualties in the Korean War, North Korea would have lost the war.  With China’s strong ties to the West, it’s doubtful they’d defend North Korea after pleading with them to end nuclear testing.  South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called his National Security Council into session early tomorrow morning to coordinate an appropriate response.  South Korea likes to rattle sabers but does very little to restrain its rogue neighbor to the North.  Getting China to buy into new U.N. sanctions or possible military action won’t be easy, given its history with North Korea.

             Barack walks a fine line in his State-of-the-Union Speech ignoring North Korea’s nuclear test, while, at the same time, hinting at possible action.  U.S. and South Korean officials understand the consequences of playing into Kim Jong-Un’s hands.  He’s like nothing more than some military response from the U.S. or South Korea.  Kim can’t wait to fire missiles at Seoul, retaliating for South Korea’s real accomplishment on the world’s economic stage.  Kim, whose impoverished country can’t feed its population, knows South Korea has moved up in GDP to the world’s 16th largest economy at over $1.2 trillion. North Korea lags far behind at about 125th with a GDP of 12.385 billion, ust above the African island of Mauritius.  Boasting over a million-man army and now feverishly chasing nukes, Kim would look forward to the day he could lash out militarily at South Korea.

             When North launched a long-range missile Dec. 12, 2012, Kim sent another shot across the bow of South Korea and the West.  With nothing to lose and everything to gain, North Korea pursues nukes with reckless abandon, hoping one day to blackmail the U.S. and South Korea.  Already with a history of exacting concessions from the West, Kim Jong-Un follows closely in his late father’s footsteps pursuing nuclear weapons.  He knows that nukes are his best way of neutralizing the U.N. Security Council.  When Obama addresses a joint session of Congress Feb. 12, he’ll call for international condemnation, knowing full well that sanctions only stiffen North Korea’s resolve to pursue nukes.  If China backs Security Council resolutions, it’s going to be difficult for Kim to go it alone.  With China on his side, Obama has the best shot of containing a growing North Korean nuclear threat.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.