JMS Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aLHFniH1sBD0 China, Russia Agree to Back U.S. on North Korea Curbs June 10 (Bloomberg) -- China and Russia will back a United Nations draft resolution that would seek to curb loans and money transfers to North Korea as punishment for its nuclear-bomb test and missile launches, U.S. and Japanese diplomats said. The U.S., Japan, China, Russia, Britain, France and South Korea agreed on the text during negotiations after North Korea detonated a nuclear bomb on May 25, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said. Support from China and Russia, which have resisted tighter sanctions on North Korea, makes it likely the draft resolution will be adopted unanimously this week. The text calls for the interdiction at seaports, airports or in international waters of any cargo suspected of containing nuclear or missile-related materials going to or from North Korea. It would prohibit the refueling or servicing of such vessels at sea, and would require any ship to proceed to a convenient port for inspection in the event consent for boarding is refused. “This sanctions regime, if passed by the Security Council, will bite, and bite in a meaningful way,” Rice said. “It will be the strongest sanctions regime in place. There is no guarantee, but it is important for the international community to speak with one voice.” Lending Curbs The UN’s previously adopted embargo on tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons would be expanded to all arms, and member nations would be urged “not to enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance, or concessional loans” or to “provide public financial support for trade” with North Korea. “It is a very strong resolution, but the question now is implementation,” Scott Snyder of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations said. “The provisions on financial transactions ultimately depend on what China does. This offers an umbrella under which, if China implements it, could have a direct effect on North Korea.” Tensions have remained high since North Korea detonated a nuclear bomb, said the 1953 armistice ending the Korean War no longer applies and tested several missiles in a show of defiance. South Korea has deployed a combat ship to its maritime border with the North and vowed last week to send F-15K fighter jets in the event of a clash. Missiles Fired North Korea fired six short-range missiles last month, two within hours of the atomic test, three more the following day and one on May 29. The communist nation may be readying as many as three medium-range missiles in a region northeast of the capital, Pyongyang, South Korea’s Yonhap News reported June 2. There are signs the North may also be taking steps to test-fire its second longer-range, ballistic missile since April, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said June 1. The draft resolution “condemns in the strongest terms” the May 25 detonation, and demands that North Korea conduct no further such tests and halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The government in Pyongyang also would be told to retract its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rejoin the six-party talks with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. The Chinese mission to the UN had no comment on the agreement. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called the draft “adequate and balanced.” Next Steps It asks UN members to report within 45 days on steps they are taking to implement the sanctions and for UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to name a group of experts to monitor their enforcement. The Security Council’s committee on North Korean sanctions would be instructed to agree within 30 days on further entities, material and individuals to be subject to the travel ban and asset freeze imposed after the 2006 nuclear test. Only two North Korean companies and a bank have been so designated; no individuals have been subjected to the sanctions. The U.S. and Japan, which led the effort to tighten sanctions on North Korea, agreed in the final days of negotiations to soften the language on the cargo inspections. The draft resolution “calls upon” UN member nations to conduct checks when appropriate instead of requiring inspections. Stopping Ships “This resolution gives the U.S. and its allies UN coverage to interdict ships suspected of carrying North Korean missiles,” said Abraham Kim of the Eurasia Group, a New York- based political-risk analysis firm. “The next step is that North Korea will test this by sending out suspicious-looking ships.” North Korea has said it would consider boarding of its ships at sea as an act of war. Kim said that while the draft is tougher than the UN resolution adopted in 2006, the lack of requirements for severance of financial ties with North Korea is likely to weaken its impact. “There are lots of parts where discretion is left to nations,” Kim said. “So while the language is tough, it leaves a lot of back doors open.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMike619 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 “The next step is that North Korea will test this by sending out suspicious-looking ships.” North Korea has said it would consider boarding of its ships at sea as an act of war. You know the US is going to board them as well...there is no way they won't. What can North Korea really do though to us? China and Russia need to protect themselves. Also makes me wonder if one of them wouldnt drop a bomb on NK if it got too escalated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 “The next step is that North Korea will test this by sending out suspicious-looking ships.” North Korea has said it would consider boarding of its ships at sea as an act of war. You know the US is going to board them as well...there is no way they won't. What can North Korea really do though to us? China and Russia need to protect themselves. Also makes me wonder if one of them wouldnt drop a bomb on NK if it got too escalated. North Korea has one of the largest armies in the world. Zero chance of them going after China though. What can N. Korea do to us? We've got about 40,000 potential hostages sitting on the N. Korea boarder acting as a trip wire if N. Korea decides to attack South Korea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMike619 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 North Korea has one of the largest armies in the world. Zero chance of them going after China though.What can N. Korea do to us? We've got about 40,000 potential hostages sitting on the N. Korea boarder acting as a trip wire if N. Korea decides to attack South Korea. when i was in seoul you already know that you are going to die pretty much as soon as they decide to invade. thats a sad thing but its something you already know going in. i just meant outside of those servicmen and women. their army may be the largest but when they have to start feeding, clothing and caring for the wounded I wonder if they are economically ready for that. my guess is they arent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Their army may be the largest but when they have to start feeding, clothing and caring for the wounded I wonder if they are economically ready for that.my guess is they arent. I think their philosophy is to have a large enough army so you don't have to wory about the casualties.. As for North Korea being economically ready for war or not. Hell their econmically more ready for war than they've been for peace for the last 50 years... War is about the best thing their economy is ready for. Still without China's or Russia's support North Korea's leader would need to be wearing a very large pair of ladies sunglasses to actually attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Still without China's or Russia's support North Korea's leader would need to be wearing a very large pair of ladies sunglasses to actually attack. Uh oh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Interesting. Garnering the support of these countries is crucial in any effort to get this North Korea cluster**** straightened out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Uh oh... Their rosie colored sun-glasses too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMarcus1914 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 What would North Korea get from having a war in the first place. To me North Korea defines the idea that "some men just want to see the world burn". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMP Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I think their philosophy is to have a large enough army so you don't have to wory about the casualties..As for North Korea being economically ready for war or not. Hell their econmically more ready for war than they've been for peace for the last 50 years... War is about the best thing their economy is ready for. Still without China's or Russia's support North Korea's leader would need to be wearing a very large pair of ladies sunglasses to actually attack. Seeing wounded people not cared for during a war is a great un-motivator. I wouldn't be shocked if after the "invasion" their military had huge amounts of AWOL/defections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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