Following two nuclear weapons tests, North Korea escalated its isolationist rhetoric this week, threatening military strikes against South Korean and American vessels in its waters. Responding to the provocation, officials in Washington and Seoul immediately increased alert levels, ramping up reconnaissance flights and spy activity on Pyongyang.

The North Korean government released a statement Wednesday threatening a “powerful military strike” against any South Korean or American vessel that attempts to interfere with North Korean shipping vessels believed to be carrying weapons. North Korea also claimed that its actions are no longer bounded by the 1953 armistice that effectively put an end to the Korean War, and that any sanctions from the international community would be viewed as a declaration of war.

North Korea’s renewed nuclear threat has become the focus of an annual security conference being held in Singapore this week. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to meet with leaders from Japan, South Korea and, most importantly, China to discuss the best course of action against Pyongyang. The United States and Japan are currently working on drafting a United Nations resolution that would impose harsh sanctions on North Korea, including a total ban on arms imports.

Any international action against Pyongyang will likely fail without the support of China, which has been reluctant to apply pressure on Pyongyang for fear of the humanitarian crisis it might have on its border should the regime fail. Although it was heartening to see China sign on to the UN Security Council’s condemnation of the North Korean program, the United States will need to convince Beijing that a nuclear North Korea poses a much bigger threat than a few million refugees. New York Times contributor B.R. Myers said China recognizes that the North’s nuclear program is essential to its survival, and has been willing to “bankroll” Pyongyang because of it. Convince Beijing that a collapse of Kim Jong Il’s regime would not be as disastrous as they expect, and they will warm up to tougher sanctions.

photo credit: ryuugakusei’s Flickr photostream (creative commons)