World conflict has become commonplace today with riots, protests, killings, and deposed leaders filling the news media headlines daily. It's the new reality of current events. We live in a highly unstable world where power blocs rule and determine the moves. North Korea is allied with China while Iran has a strong partnership with Russia. Currently, North Korea appears to be an imminent threat if not the larger threat to world peace.
Both North Korea and Iran have pursued nuclear power and weaponry for decades. North Korea has been trying to obtain nukes since the 1970s. Iran, after an eight year war with Iraq, had need of a strong trading partner and the alliance with Russia made it easier for them to purchase materials for their quest toward nuclear weaponry.
North Korea:
Direct threats to the United States has placed Kim Jong II in the spotlight. He defies international opinion by firing test missiles and flexing his political muscles despite mediation talks from both China and Russia that took place in mid-June of this year. Kim Jong is on a mission and wants the world to understand his goal for nuclear weaponry.
Recently, the country's foreign minister acknowledged that North Korea was indeed developing a uranium enrichment program with no plans to abandon the program. Despite the UN sanctions after the second nuclear test and banning of North Korean arms trade, Kim Jong continues to thumb his nose at the international community. Cutting off arms trade can weaken that sector of North Korean economy.
North Korea and Kim Jong are undeterred by world opinion and fully intend to pursue nuclear power. The North Korean leader is reported to be in ill health and perhaps in decline, but he will ensure his agenda with the appointment of his son, Kim Jong Un as his successor.
Iran:
Iran, until recently, insisted that their nuclear power plants were for peaceful energy purposes. Their necessary and needful partnership with Russia was forged after the 8 year war with Iraq, to rebuild their cities, provide energy, transportation, and become self-reliant with the help and expertise of Russia.
Long term plans meant building defense and offense capabilities. Deemed as self-reliant, the agenda included nuclear and non conventional weaponry. In addition to internal policy, Iran continues to fund terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, buying influence with social programs (health clinics) and furthering their influence in Libya, Syria and Lebanon.
Though Iran is isolated through sanctions and is economically repressed, partnership with Russia is an important aspect of rebuilding a nation to be reckoned with in the 21 st century. Russia, as a permanent member of the UN, has the forum to back Iran and peddle its own influence.
On their own strength, neither Iran nor North Korea currently pose an individual threat of substantial assault on the west, but with the sheer determination to stay on course with nuclear armament, presents a large and real threat to world peace. Their partnerships with strong allies enforce their voices and give credence to their threats to destabilize world relations.
China signed the UN resolution on June 12th. They've been in talks for several years with others in the region and with the US, in an effort to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. It is believed that China could do more as a trading partner with cutting trade. There is no indication that this solution is being pursued.
Mediators:
In the Moscow meetings, both China and Russia have applied pressure to North Korea on nuclear disarmament. With their influence, they might be the catalysts needed to diffuse North Korea due to Kim Jong's stand off with the US.
In the case of Iran, President Obama and Russia appear to be taking a more cautious approach. Russia's strong trade partnership with Iran, along with their materials and expertise are enabling the country to pursue its agenda and goal for nuclear armament. Though Ahmadinejad has threatened both Israel and the United States in rhetoric, the US appears to have more patience with Iran at this time.
Very recently, it was reported that a tacit agreement to allow Israelis to use Saudi airspace for an important mission, leads us to believe that Israel will do the work that Russia and the US are reluctant to pursue toward Iran.
World peace is a delicate balance throughout the global community. It's difficult to ascertain all the agreements and interests that one nation has with regard to another. World peace is a delicate balance.