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China-Japan-Koreas
Sork minister threatens sanctions over Nork missile test
2009-02-14
Lee administration in Seoul standing firm?
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister on Thursday urged North Korea to stop its reported preparations for another missile test, warning it would otherwise face a slew of international sanctions. Yu Myung-hwan echoed strong warnings by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates against Pyongyang's latest provocative moves, saying a missile launch would "seriously imperil not only inter-Korean relations but also the security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia."

Intelligence reports emerged recently that North Korea is preparing to test-launch a Taepodong-2 missile, which is supposedly capable of striking the western United States.

"Such a behavior by North Korea will lead only to its isolation," the minister said in his monthly press briefing. If North Korea fires the missile, Yu said, it would constitute a clear breach of U.N. resolutions 1795 and 1718, adopted after the communist nation's missile and nuclear tests in 2006.
Good luck with getting the UN to help out ...
"I would like to use this opportunity to say again that given the the vast sanctions ...(conducting a launch) is anything but in the interest of North Korea," he said.

The foreign minister refused to comment on how prepared the North's may be to carry out such a missile test, saying it is a matter of military intelligence.

He added the North's recent behavior will be discussed in his meeting with Clinton in Seoul next week, as well as joint strategy to deal with Pyongyang's nuclear program and the future of the Seoul-Washington alliance. Clinton is scheduled to visit Seoul from Feb. 19-20 as part of her first regional tour with stops in Japan, Indonesia, and China.

The U.S. has informed South Korea that Clinton will listen to the opinions of the countries and discuss the "big picture," Yu said.
And then stab you in the back ...
"In that sense, we plan to discuss the big picture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and talk about how to handle the North Korean issue, as well as have broad consultations on ways to coordinate policy on global agendas such as terrorism, climate change, and financial crisis," he said.

Asked whether South Korea had information on who will be Washington's envoy to Pyongyang, Yu avoided a direct answer. "I am not in a position to confirm," he said, about reports naming former U.S. ambassador to Seoul Stephen Bosworth. Foreign news agencies reported Bosworth is likely to be tapped the new U.S. envoy to six-party talks, a forum also joined by South and North Korea, China, Russia, and Japan aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear development. Reports said the U.S. is expected to announce the choice before Clinton's Asia tour.

"I just would like to say that he has expertise and a lot of experience on Korean affairs," Yu said.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  Having a Clinton at DoS and Bambi in charge concentrates the mind wonderfully.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-02-14 06:45  

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