Prevailing nuclear threat in Asia
The shadow of the mushroom cloud looms. Photo: National Archive/ Photolink
Anuclear horror is spreading over the whole Asian region. The forgotten mushroom clouds of Hiroshima and Nagashaki are looming again. Some people may express concern and some may laugh at the fear of a nuclear war, but it is evident that nuclear arsenals are growing all over the world, including Asia. The nuclear capabilities of Iran and DPR Korea are making news headlines, and causing grave concerns for the Pentagon as both of them are anti US. The nuclear ambition and achievement of South Korea was not mentioned much by US administration.
The New York Times (July 13) wrote that the South Korean nuclear development program had been underway since the regime of former US president Richard Nixon. South Korea has been advancing its nuclear capacity despite in spite of being prohibited by the 1974 civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States. Now, South Korea is the world's fifth-largest producer of nuclear energy.
Though South Korea is the US's long-standing ally, US is not telling them to boost their nuclear capacity. According to the US administration, this step will give a pretext to North Korea and Iran not to abandon their nuclear enrichment programs. Both South Korea and North Korea are contributing towards an endless nuclear arms race, which is definitely endangering the security, peace and sovereignty of the countries of this region.
There was optimism about the six-party talks regarding North Korea's nuclear program. The negotiations were moving in a positive direction, though there were problems. But what is the present reality? Instead of a diplomatic solution, there is sabre-rattling. A US-South Korea joint military exercise has started in the Yellow Sea amid Chinese concern. It involves 20 vessels and 200 aircraft as stated by South Korean Rear Admiral Kim Kyung Sik. This projection of military might comes four months after a South Korean warship was sunk by a torpedo.
Reacting to the Pakistan-China nuclear agreement, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the world community has reservations about the deal for the supply of nuclear reactors to Pakistan. Paradoxically, US has a nuclear deal with India despite serious opposition from the Indian people. This naturally complicates Washington's ability to credibly resist the China-Pakistan nuclear agreement. All this provokes tension not only in the Korean peninsula or in China but also in South Asia, and also invites another nuclear arms race.
It is apparent from the present scenario that a gross violation of international treaties regarding non-proliferation of nuclear weapon is continuing, keeping the people in the world under an immense nuclear threat. Also, there are serious breaches of the rules by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
On July 16, during a meeting of newly appointed Cuban ambassadors, legendary revolutionary Fidel Castro warned that US was about to impose a nuclear war on North Korea. The Western media reacted sceptically, but the ongoing "nuclear blame game" and "nuclear gambling" in Asia emphasise the warning by Fidel Castro.
The Cold War era is over. The ghost of communism has been ravaged by imperialist war, but the nuclear race still exists. The 65th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day is knocking at the door, but the quest for peace is still not over. Therefore, it is high time for the people of Asia and the global community to take a firm stand for the cause of sustainable peace, irrespective of diplomatic and political polarisation.
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