EDITORIAL - Hyper North Korea

As if the world needed any more problems, there is another possible crisis looming; the expansion of North Korea’s arsenal.

According to state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea successfully tested a hypersonic missile last January 5.

Because this is North Korea no other details were available but the bare minimum; the warhead was fired from a launcher, went faster than the speed of sound, then precisely hit a target 700 kilometers away.

What makes this one different from other tests they have conducted and announced is that it is hypersonic. Ballistic projectiles that move faster than sound are harder to defend against, something that is making even countries with missiles defense systems jumpy.

Let’s be clear about this, any country has every right to improve its own defensive and offensive capabilities. To some extent we can even say it is hypocritical of other countries to condemn North Korea for having nuclear weapons and developing better ways to deliver them even as they are doing the same.

However, the thing with North Korea is that like its older brother even further up north it has expressed interest more than once about militarily taking over another country. In this case its southern, richer, hipper, and lesser-armed, but definitely capable neighbor.

Also because in the light of possible flashpoints in the region --most likely involving the dispute in the South China Sea or Taiwan-- we all know whose side it will take.

It’s sad that we already have one country destabilizing the region. One that already has nuclear weapons. We don’t need another.

The United States, Japan, Canada, and Germany have already condemned the act. However, stronger action should be taken.

Of course, this could all just be saber-rattling. There is so much secrecy going on in North Korea that the only thing we can be sure of is not being sure of anything.

Because information about the test came from KCNA we are not sure how well the test actually went, or even if there was an actual test at all. This may all be a ploy to again get the world’s attention. This was something North Korea did before after all, in exchange for much-needed aid.

In the end, let’s hope it’s just that. The other scenario is just too frightening to think about.