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Explosive reactions

A country we do not like has shot dead dangerous rockets. Can we deny them that?




(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)

A unified world opinion was scared off by North Korea's rocket fire this week. The regime is under intense pressure from before, and there has long been speculation around when the United States will enter the country. North Korea has not concealed their desire for nuclear weapons, and by testing long-range missiles with power to reach the west coast of the United States, they have proven to be a weapon of power to count on. The response did not wait. During the morning hours on Wednesday, not only did the United States respond to threats, but NATO, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Australia and Norway had also issued strong concerns.

The situation has clear parallels to Iran's nuclear development program. The clergy say they do not want to develop nuclear weapons but want the technology to secure energy in Iran. International inspectors have not found any trace of nuclear weapons in the country, but here too, the fear of a new nuclear power has prompted the United States and large parts of the world community to respond.

But maybe we do not have much to fear. Such tests are routine when the international powers do so. North Korea has not violated any international obligations when it does as the United States, France and Norway test their weapons. The largest of the tested North Korean missiles was also destroyed after 42 seconds – so there is no imminent danger that it will reach California in the near future. Experts also agree that North Korea has not developed nuclear weapons that can be sent with the rockets.

There is every reason to be critical of the regimes in North Korea and Iran. These are not democratic societies, they are countries we do not like to compare ourselves to, and there are regimes where human rights are violated and challenged every single day.

At the same time, there must be room for understanding why they insist on defying world opinion. Iran needs nuclear power, and North Korea is under constant threat from the world's only superpower. It is not a given that the United States should have the only legitimate right to develop nuclear weapons.

And it is also not certain that North Korea's intention in this matter is as simple as a link in their nuclear program. The political processes in the area are in turmoil, and with the powerful reactions, there has already been great will for political negotiations. We hope that progress in these will be the result. Then the world opinion's explosive reactions must first settle.

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