The announcement by North Korea that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb has elicited mixed reactions from different parts of the world. While developed nations are apprehensive about the development, scientists suspect whether North Korea has the capacity to build such a weapon, the manufacture and deployment of which is complicated and needs special capabilities.
All, however, agree that the experiment North Korea conducted recently was much more advanced than the one it conducted in 2013.
The UN Security Council has called an urgent meeting to discuss the development and analysts are working hard to put together details of the experiment. The main concerns of many are how this development would affect a worldwide attempt at reducing arms race, especially the atomic arms race. The news of North Korea’s tryst with weapons of mass destruction comes even as concerned powers were patting themselves for putting an end to such tests in Iran, which had helped to increase security and stability in West Asia. Now, the new challenge from North Asia has put global security under threat.
The world is especially watching the reactions of US, its allies and the neighbours of North Korea such as Japan and South Korea. The decision of the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council would be decisive. That China, which supports North Korea, has opposed the test, brings a certain level of relief to all.
The main concern is what would happen to the atomic security system that peace-loving nations had built painstakingly through the years. They are concerned that more nations would now be inclined to conduct similar tests. Japan and South Korea could naturally be inclined to test their own bombs considering the security threat that North Korea poses. While this need not be an immediate development, the opposition to atomic weapons in Japan could be attenuated by the recent test in North Korea.
South Koreans do not want war and the sentiment for a reunification with North Korea is also high. However, a sudden thaw in diplomatic relations between the two Koreas need not be expected. Many feel that the hydrogen bomb is a survival tactic for the government in North Korea and could be one of the many ways to deal directly with the US and eventually enter its good books.
While Russia is considering the move with extreme keenness, the world would be desirous to know whether Russia would back its former ally. The Russian attitude would be crucial and all are waiting for it to come out with its stance.
While India has been against nuclear weapons, the stance of the new government is also awaited by all.
(The author is an honorary fellow of the Institute of Chinese Studies at Delhi)
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