North Korea has not ended its hostile moves, causing a fear that it may carry out rocket launches and its fourth nuclear explosion test. South Korea has decided to withdraw its remaining workers from the Kaesong industrial complex, a joint business project between the North and the South.

Tension in the Korean Peninsula is high. First and foremost, the North should refrain from taking any steps that will further heighten tension in the Korean Peninsula. Then both North Korea and other parties concerned, including Japan, the United States and South Korea, should make serious efforts to start dialogue to diffuse the tension.

Under the leadership of Mr. Kim Jong Un, North Korea has taken a series of provocative steps — its third nuclear test, a declaration of a "state of war" with South Korea, nullification of the 1953 Korean War armistice, an announcement that it will reactivate a graphite nuclear reactor in the Yongbyon nuclear complex.