North Korea is considering attacking nuclear power plants.

(Baonghean.vn) - Amidst the United Nations imposing further sanctions on North Korea in an effort to end its nuclear weapons development program, a Russian official suggested that Pyongyang would not need a nuclear device in a conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Instead, North Korea could "bombard" South Korea's nuclear power plants with missiles, contaminating a vast area with radiation and turning South Korea into a barren, lifeless desert. This is the assessment of Professor Georgy Toloraya, a Russian diplomat and expert on Asian studies, in an interview with RT. Currently, South Korea has 24 operational nuclear reactors, most located along its eastern coast near Japan.

North Korea is considering attacking nuclear power plants. Photo: Reuters

Professor Toloraya stated: "Everyone clearly understands that for North Korea, if it initiates an aggressive attack against the United States, a military conflict would cause complete and immediate destruction, because no one denies the military power of the United States."

If the U.S. attempts to resolve the issue militarily, North Korea will retaliate with a counterattack, and Pyongyang's missiles—even if not carrying nuclear warheads—could target nuclear facilities in South Korea. If the current situation in East Asia is not resolved, many countries "will live in fear of a nuclear volcanic eruption."

North Korea declares it will not abandon its missile and nuclear programs. Photo: Getty

Japan will also suffer losses, and diplomatic means and negotiations are the only way to get the region out of the crisis, because the pressure on Pyongyang over the past years, including sanctions, has not changed North Korea's position.

Expert Toloraya commented: “It’s worth noting that the bloodiest wars sometimes break out by chance or mistake, which has happened in the past. The higher the level of armament and the hotter the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the greater the risk of a war with catastrophic consequences.”

Lan Ha

(According to Asia Times)