THE eyes of the world remain focussed on the east and the stand-off between North Korea and the international community over its latest and most powerful nuclear test explosion – its sixth in the past 11 years.

And, as the deadlock shows little sign of being resolved, a public health physician who is a prominent campaigner against nuclear weapons has exclusively told The National that an armed conflict could escalate to nuclear war.

Professor Tilman Ruff, who chairs the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), says if China or Russia become involved, there is a real risk of a “global nuclear winter”.

Ruff, a world authority on the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons, will talk on the subject at a public meeting in Edinburgh later this week.

He told The National the current impasse had been caused by a combination of factors, saying: “North Korean nuclear tests and missile developments demonstrate that any determined nation can develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.

“While any development and deployment of nuclear weapons signify a willingness to use them and are an unacceptable danger to global health, the double standard applied to nuclear weapons is corrosive and promotes proliferation.

“For example, multiple United States ICBM test launches this year have not aroused any comparable concern.

“The combination of aggressive and escalating threats and brinkmanship by both [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] and US leaders, large-scale military exercises by the US and South Korea and their allies, and missile and bomb tests by the North pose a profound danger of escalating to armed conflict which could readily escalate to nuclear war.

“If China and/or Russia became involved, the risks of a global nuclear winter putting humanity in profound jeopardy are real.”

He added: “The need for serious dialogue towards a diplomatic and political solution to the long-running issues of a divided Korea is urgent.”

Ruff’s comments came as UN Security Council members yesterday called for further sanctions against North Korea after its latest test detonation added another layer of urgency for diplomats considering what to do about the North’s persistent weapons programmes.

Scheduled after North Korean officials said a hydrogen bomb was detonated underground on Sunday, the emergency session comes six days after the council strongly condemned Pyongyang’s “outrageous” launch of a ballistic missile over Japan. Less than a month ago, the council imposed its stiffest sanctions so far on the reclusive nation.

US ambassador Nikki Haley said its actions show its leader Kim Jong Un, is “begging for war”, and the time has come for the council to adopt the strongest diplomatic measures. She said: “Enough is enough. War is never something the US wants. We don’t want it now. But our country’s patience is not unlimited.”

Her remarks were in a similar vein – though less threatening – to those from US defence secretary Jim Mattis, who said the US will answer any threat from the North with a “massive military response; a response both effective and overwhelming”.

The Security Council meeting was requested by the US, UK, Japan, France and South Korea and the diplomats all reiterated demands for the regime to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes, and urged further sanctions.

Sebastiano Cardi, the UN ambassador from Italy, which heads the North Korea sanctions compliance committee, said: “Pyongyang poses a clear threat to international peace and security.”

He noted that North Korea is the only country to have tested a nuclear device in the 21st century.

Speaking after the meeting, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford welcomed the council’s prompt response, adding: “It is essential that the situation on the Korean peninsula is de-escalated.

“There is absolutely no justification for these extremely dangerous and provocative missile launches and it is a time for strong, united leadership to find a peaceful solution.

“The UN must take the lead role and all those countries involved – including the United States and China – must maintain diplomacy as the priority. There is no military route that would not involve the deaths of millions of people – and it is inconceivable that should even be thought of as a possibility.”