Sunday, President Barack Obama called for action to prevent North Korea from developing the technology to launch nuclear weapons. North Korea launched a long-range missile, also known as the Taepodong-2 rocket.

Representatives from North Korea said the rocket contained a satellite that would transmit scientific data and contained hymns for leader Kim Jong-il and his late father, Kim Il Sung.

Many, myself included, believed that to be a cover for a nuclear rocket test. History has proven that.

In October 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, which failed due to a partially successful fizzle. Also, the country is able to produce plutonium, an important element for nuclear weapons. In January, it was reported that North Korea had weaponized about 30 kilograms of plutonium, enough to sustain four or five nuclear bombs.

The blastoff violated a Security Council resolution created in 2006, which forbids North Korea from firing ballistic missiles in exchange for “stability and peace” on the Korean peninsula.

According to Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., North Korea did not succeed in launching that “satellite.”

However, the Taepodong-2 has a range of more than 4,000 miles, which means Alaska is within the range of a North Korean nuclear warhead.

Americans and the rest of the world have reason to worry about this rocket launch. It could provoke a regional arms race. Japan and others may respond to the possibility of a North Korean threat.

Also, it could create more customers in the Middle East and elsewhere for North Korean missiles.

The launch could give North Korea leverage as it hold talks for more aid and improved diplomatic relations with the new U.S. administration.

Prior to this launch, North Korea was on the bottom of the list of priorities for Obama, but after this, it has put itself at the top.

Unfortunately, this puts Obama in a pickle. On one hand, he said the world’s leaders’ opinions have to mean something, so he will want to see something strong from the U.N. Security Council. On the other, he has mentioned he is ready to negotiate.

So, how will he be able to do that without looking to allies such as Japan and South Korea like he is siding with China and rewarding North Korea for its bad behavior?

We now face the reality that North Korea is a nuclear state. The U.S. no longer has leverage – we cannot make the ultimate threat like we did with Iraq.

Han Park, a professor of international affairs at the University, said, “Continued alienation of the country isn’t going to work.” Not if we want to avoid a repeat of the nuclear arms race from the Cold War.

- Chris Ra is a member of The Red & Black’s editorial board.