Former Japanese deputy foreign minister Hitoshi Tanaka expressed dismay yesterday over North Korea's alleged nuclear test, which he said had left him with "a sense of defeat".
Prof Tanaka, who was previously involved in critical secret negotiations between Japan and North Korea, was addressing the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin on the current political situation in east Asia.
He recalled how he was among those who first received information in 1989 about North Korea's nuclear ambitions. As director-general of the Asian Affairs Bureau in Japan in 2001-02, he was engaged in secret talks which paved the way for a visit to Pyongyang by Japan's then-prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi.
Prof Tanaka recalled that the North Koreans were "terribly intimidated" by President Bush's statement that their country was part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and Iraq. The subsequent invasion of Iraq had "a tremendous impact on the mind of the North Koreans".
But the alleged nuclear test this week was a "violation" of various agreements by the North Koreans. "Why are they doing this?" he asked.
Speculating that Pyongyang was either trying to strengthen its negotiating position or seeking extra resources from the international community, he commented that, "To get significant resources, they would have to stop unlawful actions."
But North Korea had a tradition of raising the stakes: "They came to the conclusion that the nuclear capability is the last resort to protect their regime."
Although the reported nuclear test was a "very ominous" development, negotiating efforts must continue: "We cannot give up the hope of a diplomatic resolution, however small the chances."
The international community had to make clear that it could not tolerate or co-exist with North Korean nuclear weapons. "This has a tremendously negative impact on the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime, which the great country of Ireland was instrumental in creating."
But he added that, "North Korea is the worst possible regime which should have nuclear weapons." Countries in the region, such as China, Russia and South Korea, along with the US, "must maintain an absolute solidarity" in the face of North Korean officials who were very good at manipulating differences between other states.
In addition, a "very tough" resolution from the United Nations Security Council, including sanctions and a clear timetable, was required in response to Pyongyang's "irrational" activities. He said a "fundamental transformation" of the North Korean regime was required.
Prof Tanaka noted there was a"very significant division of views" in the US administration, but that the Americans were capable of uniting around a "very, very strong policy" on a high-priority issue.
"Unfortunately, North Korea was not at the top of the agenda," he said. "I would very much hope that the US [ will] consider this as a crucial issue."