[EDITORIAL]New nuclear state?

The recent statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei that North Korea had nuclear weapons has caused a stir in Seoul which, along with the United States, does not recognize North Korea`s possession of nuclear weapons.

"North Korea has nuclear weapons, which is a matter of fact," ElBaradei said, adding, "We have to face reality."

He counted nine nuclear powers. The United States, Russia, China, France and Britain are officially recognized as nuclear weapons states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India, Pakistan and Israel are considered de-facto nuclear powers. ElBaradei`s statement added North Korea to the list.

The government said it was looking into the context of the remark and played down the significance of the statement. A Foreign Ministry official said that ElBaradei`s remarks seemed simply to have been a warning for the international community to bear in mind North Korea`s nuclear capability and to deal with this reality.

However, the IAEA chief`s statement cannot be dismissed in this way. It should be carefully reviewed. Indeed, the remarks, when considered in tandem with statements by the U.S. intelligence and military earlier this year that referred to North Korea as a nuclear state, may indicate a shift toward recognizing the communist state as a de facto nuclear power.

Although the U.S. government has reiterated its position that it does not view North Korea as a nuclear state, Seoul is nevertheless concerned that position may change.

Recognizing Pyongyang as a de-facto nuclear power would render meaningless the continuation of the six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of North Korea. Already, Pyongyang - which has been asserting that it is a nuclear power since testing a nuclear device in October 2006 - last week announced its withdrawal from the talks. Recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state would also mean that the communist state would have greater leverage during any future negotiations with Seoul or Washington - or any other country for that matter.

The Foreign Ministry says it is engaged in efforts to promote Seoul`s position that North Korea should not be recognized as a nuclear power. In the meantime, the government must prepare for the possibility that one day North Korea could be acknowledged as a de-facto nuclear state. Such acknowledgement would dramatically alter not only inter-Korean relations but politics in the region as well.