North Korean test situation to end in verbal criticism - expert
VLADIVOSTOK. Feb 12 (Interfax) - The North Korean underground nuclear test will not ignite geopolitical tensions between Asia Pacific countries, Political Science Ph.D., Deputy Director Artyom Lukin of the School of Regional and Global Studies at the Far Eastern Federal University told Interfax on Tuesday.
"This is not the first nuclear blast North Korea has done. Judging from the previous years, we can say there will be no surge of tensions," Lukin said.
As a rule, the explosion causes verbal criticism by other countries and sanctions against North Korea, he said.
"Sanctions have been plentiful. They have little effect on North Korea. Most probably, the same will happen now. Indignation will be expressed and noise will be made, but that will be it. None of these countries has the tools of real influence on North Korea," the expert said.
China is the only country capable of influencing North Korea, he said. "But China won't be doing it because North Korea is its ally," Lukin suggested.
The latest nuclear test in North Korea is a natural event, he said. "No one wants to admit that the DPRK is a nuclear power, but it is actually so. Everyone has put up with that and knows that this is a country with a nuclear potential, which is displayed sometimes," the expert said.
The KCNA news agency of North Korea reported the successful underground nuclear test ban on Tuesday.
It said the test of the "miniature explosive device" was conducted precisely to plan.
