Dangerous Nuclear Test...

North Korea carried out its first nuclear bomb test on Monday (Oct. 9). We had actually anticipated their first nuclear bomb test at the end of the year, but they carried it out much sooner. I think it is a "flagrant and brazen" violation of international opinion.

Seoul has made every effort to maintain peace on the Korean peninsula. The Gaesong Industrial Park and the Mt. Geumgang (Geumgangsan) tour are good examples of that effort.

There had been a good chance for North Korea in the six-party talks, but the US did not consider North Korea a partner. It imposed sanctions on North Korea, including financial ones. So North Korea tried to test its missiles in the East Sea, and as a result, North Korea tested a nuclear weapon.

Now the US has to change its attitude toward North Korea, because North Korea wants to establish diplomatic relations with the US.