UN Tut Tuts North Korea

Reuters reports that the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to impose weapons-related sanctions on North Korea today, while simultaneously condemning DPRK's missile tests earlier this month. The resolution, which was immediately rejected by DPRK, also demands that North Korea suspend all ballistic missile related activities.

Little late for that, isn't it?

The sought-after Chapter 7 resolution, which would make the demands mandatory and provide for military action if they were not followed, was not imposed. However, several nations, including the United States, Japan and Britain, considered the language of the resolution tough and binding, despite the lack of Chapter 7. US Ambassador John Bolton said "the United States and other Member States have the opportunity at any point to return to the Council for further action."

Bolton also said that the resolution demands that North Korea "suspend your ballistic missile program; stop your procurement of materials related to weapons of mass destruction, and implement your September, 2005 commitment to verifiably dismantle your nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs."

Here are some of the demands from the resolution, from Reuters. The UNSC:

• Registering profound concern at the DPRK's breaking of its pledge to maintain its moratorium on missile launching ...
• Expressing grave concern at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea launch of ballistic missiles, given the potential of such systems to be used as a means to deliver nuclear, chemical or biological payloads ...
• Demands that the DPRK suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program, and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching;
• Requires all member states, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, to exercise vigilance and prevent missile and missile-related items, materials, goods and technology being transferred to DPRK's missile or weapons of mass destruction programs;
• Strongly urges the DPRK to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks without precondition, to work toward the expeditious implementation of the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement, in particular to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and to return at an early date to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards ...

The UNSC met for days and came up with that? And we need the UN why? The next time DPRK fires missiles at our allies, maybe the USNC will use a curse word or two, like "darnit" or "dagnabbit" before saying all of the above. Pointless, really. The North Koreans will continue to do whatever they want, despite the above resolution, just as they always have.

Granted, options are limited. It seems to me that our only choice to avoid a major conflict with these people is to somehow earn the support of the Russians and Chinese, who seem to be able to exert major influence over these people. Quick, Las Vegas, what are the odds of that happening?

But let's look at another opinion on this. Read this partial interview transcript from a July 14, 2006, Hannity and Colmes interview of Reverend Franklin Graham, one of only a few Americans who have actually visited North Korea. Very interesting.

I also find it interesting that DPRK has virtually vanished from the front pages of the MSM, in light of what's happening in the Middle East. More proof that Iran and North Korea are working together?