The repercussions following the recent nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reverberate stubbornly in Northeast Asia and the world at large, and the world is counting on the parties concerned to show the political wisdom necessary to de-escalate the tensions in the region.

Overreacting will only plunge the situation deeper into the vicious cycle of tit-for-tat actions and paint an even gloomier picture for the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

That Pyongyang conducted its third underground nuclear test on Feb 12, in disregard of the deep concerns voiced by the international community beforehand, was naturally taken as being in open defiance of the majority of countries, which are firmly opposed to Pyongyang's decision to embrace a nuclear program.