Information Exchange Between Iran and North Korea on Nuclear Weapons

North Korea's Central Television reported on Friday at 1 PM local time that Pyongyang conducted its fifth nuclear test. Experts suggest this is likely the most powerful nuclear test to date, and North Korea claims it successfully tested a nuclear warhead. Japan and South Korea confirmed the nuclear test after detecting tremors measuring approximately 5.3 on the Richter scale in northeastern North Korea on Friday morning. South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and many others strongly condemned the nuclear test. According to North Korea's state media, this nuclear warhead can be mounted on ballistic missiles. Around March of this year, Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, ordered the launch of ballistic missiles and preparations for testing a nuclear warhead. Ken Kato, a Japanese researcher on North Korea residing in Tokyo, states, "North Korea's acquisition of nuclear weapons is a matter of life and death for Japan and South Korea." He adds, "The North Korean leader is highly unpredictable. He has ordered the execution of about a hundred senior officials for minor mistakes like dozing off in meetings or not sitting up straight. Now imagine such a person having nuclear weapons." Kato believes that given the proximity of U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea, as well as U.S. territory, North Korea's acquisition of a nuclear warhead poses a threat to U.S. national security, but it could also be a serious threat to the European Union. Kato states, "We know that North Korea supplies weapons to the government of Bashar al-Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Now North Korea could provide them with nuclear weapons." We are aware that Iranian scientists have frequently traveled to North Korea during its nuclear testing period. Kato emphasizes that military cooperation between Iran and North Korea has existed for years and could be very dangerous. Kato adds, "We know that Iranian scientists have frequently traveled to North Korea during its nuclear testing period. Furthermore, based on the agreement between Iran and North Korea, the two countries exchange information on missile technologies and nuclear weapons." But what is North Korea's goal in conducting these nuclear tests and officially announcing them as a major achievement? Kato suggests that North Korea's efforts are aimed at threatening the U.S. But for what purpose? According to Kato, "The North Korean leader believes that through these threats, he can compel the U.S. to recognize North Korea as a nuclear power like Pakistan and India, thereby stabilizing his regime." Experts state that North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests so far, and this could continue. However, Kato proposes that a deterrent against North Korea's nuclear activities would be to prevent flights of "Air Koryo," the national airline of North Korea. Kato states, "This airline has regular flights to Russia, China, and occasionally Kuwait, transferring nuclear weapons and light weapons instead of by ship. I have reliable sources indicating that nuclear technology is being exported via this airline." North Korea, which shares the longest land border with China and has always received support from this country, has faced serious criticism from the Chinese government following this recent nuclear test. Kato states that China's opposition to North Korea's nuclear tests is genuine, but there are serious disagreements within China regarding how to deal with North Korea. Kato says, "Many in China support North Korea because they are concerned that if Pyongyang falls, the U.S. will invade China's borders. However, even these individuals do not want a nuclear North Korea." With rising tensions in the Middle East and terrorist threats worldwide, some experts and anti-war activists believe that the world no longer has room for the development and maintenance of nuclear weapons. The bitter experience of using nuclear weapons in the two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can attest to this claim.