There might be different ways to read into how and why the North Korean leadership is behaving the way it has over the past few years, and especially this year of 2012. While a consensus on how best to deal with it is yet to be reached, there seems to be a broad consensus that with this long-range rocket launch the country has demonstrated its defiance to the international community in no uncertain terms and is probably now a prime example of a rogue state in the context of nuclear behaviour and international relations.

Nothing seems to deter North Korea from doing what it has been planning for a while. Unlike its failed attempt in April this year, this time North Korea seems to determined to end 2012 with what Pyongyang claims is simply a peaceful rocket launch and is part of its ‘scientific and technological’ plan to launch a weather satellite into orbit.

Of course, neighboring nations in the Korean Peninsula, be it Japan, South Korea and others like the United States, United Kingdom are not convinced and perceive this as a veiled missile test to carry a nuclear warhead in future. They have further termed it as an ‘act of defiance’ that calls for urgent sanctions. Beijing, as an ally of Pyongyang, has remained restrained in its response, yet this time around it will be looked upon for a stronger stand. India too has responded to the rocket launch, terming it as “unwarranted action that adversely impacted peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula”.

North Korea’s rocket launch has been viewed by other countries, including Russia and the European Union, as a violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 (adopted unanimously in 2009), something that would cause greater regional instability. Pyongyang also faces criticisms on the grounds of the economic difficulties that its people face in the background of famines, economic sanctions and a misuse of its meager economic resources.

Interestingly, this year has been the year of missile tests.  We witnessed missile tests by India and Pakistan. The responses to India’s tests (Agni series) have been muted as it isn’t seen as a nuclear threat, unlike Iran, North Korea or even Pakistan.

At the end of the day, whether the North Korean leadership is seeking attention or issuing a warning, denuclearization and disarmament need to be bought back to the centre stage.  The need is to question the legitimacy of nuclear weapons and their deterrent value before we begin to decide who is capable or incapable of handling them and why.  As I have stated in my earlier column, when it comes to the nuclear issue we must avoid distinctions between a good state and a rogue one. It is time for a stricter regime with clearer boundaries and tighter norms that imposes equal obligations on all nations. The efforts should be to reduce the threat.

The question that policy-makers and world leaders need to ask and answer is whether we are safer in a world with nuclear weapons. Looking at North Korea’s behavior, the answer seems clearly tilted in favour of a nuclear weapons-free world.