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| Axis of Evil |
| U.S. Tosses North Korea Crisis to Security Council |
| 2003-01-22 |
| While North Korean delegates visiting Seoul put on a charm offensive to try to enlist support from South Korea, a U.S. official said here today that the U.N. Security Council will be asked this week to deal with the Stalinist state's nuclear ambitions. Referral of the issue to the Security Council would set up a showdown with North Korea, which has said U.N. approval of sanctions would be "tantamount to war." Deputy Undersecretary of State John Bolton said: "I don't think it's a question of if it goes to the Security Council." He said Beijing and Seoul have agreed and "we're confident that it will get there by the end of this week." Hot Potato! Hot potato! Here, catch! The International Atomic Energy Agency, which can refer North Korea's nuclear violations to the U.N. body, was late today still considering when to schedule a meeting of its board of governors. Bolton said after visiting Seoul and Beijing, there was "agreement" that the IAEA should notify the Security Council of North Korea's eviction of IAEA inspectors and declaration that it was withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But at a press conference here, Bolton sidestepped the question of whether the United States would push for sanctions against North Korea. "The Security Council has a broad range of options it can consider -- political, economic and other," he said. "The issue of taking the matter to the Security Council and the question of sanctions are two entirely separate matters. The Security Council has dealt with a large range of issues, only a small number of which have economic sanctions been imposed," he said. And we all know how effective those sanctions have been. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #5 Remember TJ, we want to deal with our enemies one at a time, not all at once. Remember, diplomacy is the fine art of saying "nice doggie" while you look for a rock. I think (I hope) the Bush people are just playing along here, knowing that time is on our side. Every day we don't ship oil or food the NKors get weaker, and every day we get closer to resolving Iraq. With a bit of luck and some skillful planning, the NKors will implode just like those old buildings do when you set the charges just right -- nuttin' but a small cloud of dust. So it's okay for now for the Bush admin team to talk about what we might do to be nice. Just as long as we don't DO any of it. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-01-22 22:11:08 |
| #4 This is evidence of Bush's going woobly on North Korea. The more North Korea rattles its saber the more the US backs down. The key to this is the PRC. North Korea will continue its policies unless the PRC exerts pressure. And if you believe this then how about hiring NAMBLA to babysit your little boys. |
| Posted by: TJ Jackson 2003-01-22 21:57:13 |
| #3 Jimmy Carter is almost done in Venezuela. Why don't we send him back to North Korea? That will keep the NK's occupied for a while. |
| Posted by: Denny 2003-01-22 20:20:59 |
| #2 What would be nice is an effective (yes, this means you, China) blockade of (uninspected)exports. As long as they aren't exporting, time is on our side |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-01-22 13:46:36 |
| #1 Putting NK on the UNSC will keep France, et al entertained while we do the heavy lifting elsewhere. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-01-22 13:45:13 |