For calm, caution, reason at a time of great danger

THE world’s fears of nuclear destruction rose to new heights last Wednesday with the latest ballistic missile test of North Korea. The new missile, Hwasong-15, landed only 950 kilometers in the sea just west of Japan’s main island of Honshu . But it had been fired at an elevated angle that it reached an altitude of 4,475 kilometers before splashing to the sea. If it had been aimed with the usual trajectory, it would have reached a distance of 13,000 kilometers, enough to hit any major city of the United States, according to one Western expert.

After the test, North Korea’s leader Kim JongUn proudly announced it had “now finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force.” United States President Donald Trump had a very terse response at a White House press conference. “I will only tell you that we will take care of it. It is a situation that we will handle.”

Washington has repeatedly said that “all options,” including military action, are on the table in dealing with North Korea. This is why several other countries have expressed fears that President Trump just might order some kind of “preemptive strike” to destroy the missile sites.

South Korea President Moon Jae-In said: “We must stop a situation where North Korea miscalculates and threatens us with nuclear weapons or where the United States considers a preemptive strike.” China, North Korea’s chief ally, expressed “grave concern” at the test but called on all sides to act cautiously. Russia urged all sides to stay calm.

The Philippine government, through Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano, has expressed its serious concern over the developments in Korea. As outgoing chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines reiterated ASEAN’s readiness to help reduce tensions and restore peace in the region.

We have a special reason to be concerned. We have today some 65,000 Filipinos living in South Korea and 242,000 in Japan. In any outbreak of conflict, these Filipinos would be among the people at greatest risk.

But more than the danger to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, a nuclear exchange between North Korea and the US would have dire repercussions around the globe. Nuclear radiation would render most of the world unfit to live in.

The most terrible destruction would be suffered by the main protagonists – North Korea and the US. It is to them that the whole world appeals today for calm, for caution, for reason at this time of great danger to all of us on this planet.