The United Nations (UN) Security Council voted to enforce new sanctions against North Korea on Monday, Sept. 11th.
President Trump’s top diplomat, Ambassador Nikki Haley, said these are “by far the strongest measures ever imposed [on North Korea].”
“This will cut deep,” Ambassador Nikki Haley said after a unanimous vote to impose new sanctions on North Korea, following their latest nuclear test, the Washington Examiner reported.
The package of sanctions targets North Korea’s imports of oil and textiles, as well as its ability to profit from forced laborers overseas. The Security Council has imposed limits on inbound oil supplies and more comprehensive inspections of cargo-ships going in and out of North Korean ports.
These measures will deprive North Korea $1.3 billion annually, according to Ambassador Haley. In addition, she reminds the regime and its allies—such as Russia and China—the U.S. government has no intent to overthrow North Korea.
“We are not looking for war,” Haley stressed, “The North Korean regime has not yet passed the point of no return.
If it agrees to stop its nuclear program, it can reclaim its future. If it proves it can live in peace, the world will live in peace with it. On the other hand, if North Korea continues its dangerous path, we will continue with future pressures. The choice is theirs.”
“The [North Korean] regime is not suicidal,” Dr. DeRosa, a Monmouth professor, states. “It wants very badly to survive. The USA and its allies can continue to contain [the regime] even as it acquires more nuclear weapons.”
“[The sanctions] are worth a try,” DeRosa says, “but [Kim Jung-un’s] regime believes having nuclear weapons will make it more secure, and they will do their best to continue their program despite sanctions.”
Indeed, North Korea proclaimed it hopes to reach “equilibrium” with the United States’ military. The statement—by North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un—came a day after the UN Security Council condemned the regime’s “highly provocative” ballistic missile test over Japan on Friday, according to the New York Times.
It is imperative that all nations cooperate—both North Korea and its allies, and the U.S. and our allies.
Ambassador Nikki Haley explains, “We all know these steps only work if all nations implement them completely and aggressively. Today’s resolution would not have happened without the strong relationship developed between President Trump and Chinese President Xi, and we greatly appreciate both teams working with us.”
Moreover, President Trump must—unequivocally and emphatically—assure the United States’ allies we will stand with them.
“In any case, the most dangerous element in the situation is the US President giving signals that the U.S. might not defend its allies.DeRosa said. “That creates a sense of opportunity for the USA’s adversaries that they would not otherwise have. If [North Korea] thinks we won’t come to the defense of [South Korea], then it might conclude that its nuclear weapons have stalemated U.S. military power, and given it leave to mess with the south.”
DeRosa also explains the importance of making it clear to North Korea that an attack on South Korea or Japan is tantamount to an attack on the United States: “The first Korean War started in large part because the communist powers did not believe the United States would wage war for South Korea. So this time, the United States should leave no doubt that, nukes or no nukes, any attack on its allies is regime suicide for Kim.”
It is necessary that President Trump should also be tone down his rhetoric when referring to and discussing North Korea, and their leader Kim Jung-un. Our nation’s standing is dependent on the actions of our leader—especially when dealing with a nuclear leader as unhinged as Kim Jung-un. “Dismissing [Kim Jung-un] with trite nicknames is fundamentally childish and dangerous,” Dr. Parkin, a Monmouth professor, warned, “[doing so is] undermining our standing in the world and risking our lives, as well as that of our allies.” On Sunday, President Trump tweeted, “I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how ‘Rocket Man’ is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!” Alexis Borrino, a sophomore Education-major, said, “I definitely think he needs to tone down a little bit…These days people take things the wrong way, and he is not only putting a target on his own back, but on [everyone’s in] America.” Borrino also believes President Trump should not be communicating on social media.
IMAGE TAKEN FROM businesskorea.co.kr
