The Democratic People's Republic of Korea tested its sixth, and most powerful, thermonuclear device on Sunday despite all the warnings, sanctions and vows of "extreme pressures" to the contrary. Whether or not it was a hydrogen bomb with the destructive potential Pyongyang claims, the latest nuclear test indicates it has taken a big step in its pursuit of nuclear prowess.

The latest development, along with its previous claims of making progress in nuclear warhead miniaturization and mid-and long-range ballistic missile technologies, if true, may indeed give Pyongyang the means to carry out its threats of launching doomsday attacks on enemy targets. Given Pyongyang's readiness to put to use each and every of its newly acquired capabilities against perceived enemies, this is a particularly dangerous move in its tactic of using nuclear and missile tests to draw attention to its demands.

Like on each past occasion, we have heard condemnations, warnings, threats of additional sanctions, and again, the talk of military options. But the same old question remains: how far can the stakeholders go in taking meaningful actions to rein in the DPRK's brinkmanship?