It is about time for South Korea and U.S. or all possible stake holders of North Korea"s nuclear weapons to face the reality. Six Party Talks did not stop the North Korean nuclear weapons development and would not succeed in the future. The worst case scenario (the threat or use of nuclear weapons) could not be excluded and window of opportunity has been smaller and smaller.
North Korea could have succeeded to reduce the size of nuclear weapons to be delivered by its ballistic missiles. The new leader may not know better than his predecessor the sever consequences of nuclear calamity. The contingency plans and capabilities against the worst case scenario should be prepared and developed before being too late.
South Korea may need to retrieve its ownership on North Korean nuclear weapons issues and lead the cooperation among U.S. and Japan to jointly respond in case of North Korean nuclear threat. It should make all possible efforts to deter North Korea in order not to have the worst case scenario by building up its denial and punishment capabilities. The capabilities of missile defense should be emphasized.
As practical tasks, most of all South Korea need to mobilize all its national and military intelligence assets to collect and analyze the information on North Korea"s nuclear development and capabilities. It needs to establish the czar on North Korea"s nuclear threat at the Blue House, Presidential Office, such as "Office of Nuclear Threat Net Assessment." At the same time it should develop the plans in more detail to neutralize the North Korean nuclear facilities in case of North Korea"s attack. Furthermore, South Korea may need to review all possible options to neutralize the North Korea"s nuclear capabilities in emergencies such as impending nuclear attack. It should review all the legal aspects of preemptive actions and prepare plans and capabilities to execute the order, in case of urgent necessity.
The U.S. and Japan may need to understand the legitimate worries of South Korean people regarding North Korea"s nuclear weapons development and possible threat. A few national assembly members advocated the development of nuclear weapons and the re-deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. Instead of idling away the precious time based on wishful thinking regarding Six Party Talks, the stake holders of North Korea"s nuclear weapons issues should get down to the work against the worst case scenario.