Your e-mails: The world can't live with a nuclear North Korea

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(CNN) -- North Korea has claimed a successful nuclear test despite pressure from the international community for the country to abandon its nuclear program.

CNN asked readers how they thought the world should respond. Here is a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited:

I think it's pathetic how North Korea has put the world back 40 years. This isn't advancement despite what these short sited and narrow-minded individuals might think. I do however admire the stance that countries like the U.S. Japan etc., have taken to place embargoes on N. Korea. If leaders want to affect the world do it in a positive way, like developing vaccines or solving hunger at home and abroad. Actions like developing nuclear weaponry only demonstrate the very smallness and insignificance of this man and his cabinet. I can only guess that his need to develop and use his 'little toy' is a pathetic attempt to overcompensate for his own physical shortcomings. Sad isn't it?
Mark Marrazzo, Hamilton, Ontario

Iraq was invaded on "rumors" of having weapons of mass destruction. Now North Korea is over there jumping up and down bragging to the world that they have nuclear weapons. Why aren't they being stopped?
Joseph, Ottawa, Ontario

The current nuclear debacle, which shocked the international community, can be heavily attributed to South Korea's current administration's relaxed and soft policy toward North Korea. In my opinion, South Korea should have discontinued its conciliatory policy the moment North Korea proclaimed it's intention to be a nuclear nation and instead should have pursued a more hard line approach toward the rogue nation.
Won Sung, Seoul, South Korea

I think we can all agree on one thing: the world can't live with a nuclear North Korea. Kim Jong II is pushing our buttons on purpose to see how far we'll let him go. Regretfully, at this point, I think sanctions are our only option. Our resources and troops are too tired and tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan at the moment to take on another country, especially one with the North's military force. We need to get them out of Iraq and Afghanistan first, and as soon as possible, but realistically, that can take years. Starving them might be the only way. Regretfully, we won't be starving the people that matter -- it will be the poor citizens. But there's really not much more the United States can do. Our military hands are tied.
Faith Hayden, Washington

The world should stop pretending that it is acceptable to have nuclear weapons in the hands of a chosen few countries. The U.S. has time and again refused to even declare before or during conflicts with non-nuclear weapon states that it would not use nuclear weapons. This is despite the fact that in conventional weapons it has overwhelming superiority. Few countries have even declared a no-first-use policy. How can there be an environment of security in such circumstances? On the contrary, if this situation prevails then it would be necessary for every country to have nuclear weapons. If this continues then neither the U.S. nor all the countries together will be able to prevent proliferation in the long run. The only solution is that all countries must immediately agree to destroy all nuclear weapons within the next 5 years at the most. Only as a corollary to that can North Korea be asked to give up its nuclear weapons immediately. Else none of the nuclear weapon states has any moral authority to preach to North Korea.
Saurabh Prakash, New Delhi, India

I'm a soldier here in Korea, in the 6/37th FA battalion. I'm a 20-minute walk away from the border. My thought on this is we won't go in until they fire first. I know what all of their rounds are capable of. Where's that first one going? That's what we need to think on. I mean, if that first one hits Seoul... that's 22 million lives at the push of a button. Then you also have to remember that North Korea has the largest artillery division out there. 1.2 million foot soldiers and like 6 million reserves. But whatever it comes down to, I am behind my president 110% of the way. I'm a soldier and I have been trained well and ready to get it done.
Matthew, Seoul, South Korea

As appealing as attacking North Korea might sound, to do so right now would be profoundly stupid. First, too many of our troops are tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Second, the Korean peninsula is one of the toughest environments in which to wage war, as we found out over 50 years ago. Third, the Chinese could well decide to ride to the North's rescue as it did during the Korean War. Fourth, South Korea would be utterly devastated and Japan might suffer too. Fifth, Kim Jong Il cares only about Kim Jong Il; as long as he survives he doesn't care who else suffers and since the U.S. hasn't caught or killed Osama bin Laden after over 5 years of trying, he probably thinks his chances are pretty good. The real answer to this is China. As North Korea's only real ally, only it has the power to effectively push for change. The Chinese have to step up and take a hard line against Kim Jong Il. Until they do, he's going to become more and more dangerous.
Robert Gonko, Springfield, Illinois

For a moment, let us assume that North Korea did explode a nuclear device. In that case, it's a slap right across Mr. Bush's face. For all his posturing, Mr. Bush thru his continued support of Gen. Musharaf and Pakistan has shown that one could be a rogue state, one could export terrorism to all parts of the world, one could trade in nuclear technology to other terrorist states and organizations and still be a "bulwark" in the war against terror and could be rewarded with billions of dollars of aid and military assistance. It is this status that Kim of the DPK wants for his country and for himself. Thank you President Bush, for showing him the way!
Madhu Ranganathan, Chennai, India

Sanctions against North Korea won't work as it is a poor country and sanctions would only hurt the common people of Korea and not the military rulers in Pyongyang and also they don't even have much interaction with the international community. Let the Chinese do the hard talking as they only have the leverage with the rulers of Pyongyang, and let's hope Iran doesn't test one.
Sanjeev Jha, Mumbai, India

The U.S.' unfortunate excursions into Iraq and Afghanistan under the ill-advised leadership of President Bush have limited its capacity to act effectively. Economic sanctions are never 100% effective and will probably not dissuade the North Koreans from continuing their nuclear program. I suspect that China and Russia are not really as upset as what they are making themselves out to be. It appears that the world will just have to live with a nuclear capable North Korea and later probably Iran as well.
Rev. Damon Urbani, Johannesburg, South Africa

The global community should respond by telling the United States to stop making countries feel they may be the next Iraq!
Baron Baucom, Carbondale, Illinois

The Korean War was never ended; it has only been in a state of truce. The Korean War was instigated by China and the split in Korea was because of China. I believe that it is China's responsibility to reel in its BRAT even if by force. North Korean people are starving and for several years thousands have been migrating across the border into China to the point that China has attempted to close its borders, similar to our situation with Mexico. As long as North Korea's people are in their present state and under the rule of the Korean version of Adolf Hitler, there will be no true peace and a clear and present danger will exist from North Korea. Either China takes care of the problem or the U.S and it's allies have to take care of it, the only way to stop this mad man in North Korea, is to eliminate him and replace him with a benevolent leader.
Roy Layman, Dobbins, California

I believe what is good for the goose should be okay for the gander. If America, as a country can stack up nuclear weapons, support Isreal and condemn Iran and North Korea, yet, the UN is not balancing the situation as an independent committee of nations, then there is something grossly wrong with the world. Besides, do we not think power should be balanced between the East and West?
Tunde Kamali, Abuja, Nigeria

There is no need to take military action.... North Korea does not pose a real / serious threat to any nation in the region and especially to the U.S. With thousands of U.S. troops in country and an advanced military, South Korea would hand the North a "beating". Furthermore, North Korea's power projection is limited to the Korean peninsula as we witnessed in their recently failed attempt to test a ballistic missile.
Christopher Colbow, Alexandria, Virginia

Some people think that since the US has nuclear weapons that everyone should be allowed to have them - that it is not our business, or that we should stay out of it. The US has been the world's salvation, peacekeeper, food bank and conscience for a long-long time. Many countries around the world exist because of US! Many countries would be speaking a different language then they are today if were not because of US. When crap happens in this world - everyone turns to the US to bail them out.
Kathleen Hebbel, Largo, Florida

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