North Korea is again moving up the international agenda with the revelation that it has been developing a secret nuclear plant – and further allegations this week that it may be hiding other facilities as well.
The question being asked in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo is: how urgent a threat does Pyongyang now represent?
At stake is the sustainability of the current US approach of “strategic patience”, which seeks to contain and apply pressure on North Korea, rather than rushing to give it concessions. That tactic depends on US efforts to convince China, North Korea’s greatest ally and source of support, to step up pressure on Pyongyang. The US campaign is set to reach its climax when President Hu Jintao of China visits Washington next month.
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