World condemns North Korea
WASHINGTON – The White House pushed Monday for aggressive sanctions against North Korea, including measures to limit trade in military and luxury items, as Pyongyang’s claim that it had conducted an underground nuclear test defied the Bush administration’s effort to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Russia, South Korea, Japan and – significantly – China, North Korea’s closest ally, joined the United States in condemning the reported test, giving hope to the Bush administration that it might unify the international community against Pyongyang. But U.S. officials acknowledged uncertainty about whether the condemnations would translate into strict U.N. sanctions given China’s traditional reluctance to lean heavily on its ally.
There were questions Monday about the strength and success of North Korea’s explosion, but there was little doubt among White House officials, lawmakers and outside experts that the action added a volatile ingredient to an already dangerous world environment.
President Bush, acknowledging that he could not confirm that a nuclear test had occurred early Monday, said the North Korean claim is nonetheless a “provocative act” and said he is “committed to diplomacy” to solve the crisis. Noting that North Korea has transferred missile technology to Iran and Syria, Bush also seemed to draw a sharp line that he warned Pyongyang not to cross.
“The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the consequences of such action,” Bush told reporters at the White House.
If the test is confirmed, North Korea would become the eighth member of the club of declared nuclear powers, and one led by a reclusive Stalinist dictator known for cruelty and unpredictability. Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Asia subcommittee in the House, said the action could prod Japan to drop its non-nuclear stance, encourage Iran to harden its stand in negotiations over its reported nuclear program and make it difficult to stop North Korea from marketing weapons to “undesirable parties.”
The explosion also promised to renew scrutiny of the Bush administration’s handling of North Korea and more generally its efforts to confront rogue states, just as crucial midterm elections are approaching. North Korea has ignored repeated warnings from the Bush administration on both nuclear and missile testing.
Democrats quickly seized on the new North Korean claim as evidence that Bush has bungled his foreign policy, and even some conservatives voiced concern that the initial White House response Monday was insufficiently stern.
“Unfortunately, on the Bush administration’s watch, North Korea’s nuclear arsenal has grown to as many as a dozen bombs,” Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said. “Distracted by Iraq and paralyzed by internal divisions, the Bush administration has for several years been in a state of denial about the growing challenge of North Korea, and has too often tried to downplay the issue or change the subject.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority whip, said of the Democrats: “It doesn’t make any difference what (Bush) does, they just come out and trash him.” McConnell said he was hopeful that China might be encouraged to sign on to a tough sanctions plan against North Korea, noting the Chinese foreign ministry statement that Pyongyang “defied the universal opposition of international society and flagrantly conducted the nuclear test.”
“For China, that’s a pretty tough language,” McConnell said, echoing a statement voiced privately by Bush administration officials.
At the United Nations on Monday, the Bush administration proposed the imposition of an arms embargo and a series of legally binding U.N. financial and trade sanctions on North Korea, as well as international inspections of all trade coming in and out of the secretive country to enforce them. The measures were contained in a U.S. draft resolution presented to the 15-nation Security Council.
John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told diplomats at a closed door emergency session the U.S. initiative aims to limit North Korea’s ability to import or export nuclear and ballistic missile technology and hinder its capacity to raise illicit funds, citing the alleged manufacturer of counterfeit U.S. dollars, according to senior council diplomats.
The U.S. draft resolution would also bar the import of all luxury goods, and demand that North Korea cease its nuclear activities and restart multiparty talks aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis. The resolution would give North Korea 30 days to comply with council demands or face the possibility of “such further action as may be needed.”
Britain and France voiced support for sanctions on North Korea, but stopped short of endorsing the U.S. backed draft resolution. Japan’s U.N. ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, said his government “sees eye to eye” with the Americans on many of its proposals. The Japanese, in fact, offered amendments that in some cases go further; Japan called for a ban on all North Korean exports, for instance, and a ban on North Korean ships or aircraft calling on any foreign countries.
China cautioned that the Security Council should pursue only diplomatic means to persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear activities. China’s U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, said Beijing is opposed to the North Korean test and that it is ready to discuss “how the Security Council could react firmly, constructively and prudently with regard to this challenge.” But he declined to say whether Beijing would support a sanctions resolution. “The door to solve this issue from a diplomatic point of view is still open.”