Sanctions Against N. Korea Weighed

U.N. Considering U.S. Draft With Tough Sanctions After Reported Nuke Test

(CBS/AP)  The Security Council began weighing a U.S. draft resolution to impose potentially crippling sanctions on North Korea after the secretive communist nation claimed to have set off an atomic explosion, drawing widespread international condemnation including from its closest allies.

The Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's decision to flout its appeal not to carry out a test and urged Pyongyang to refrain from further nuclear blasts, return to six-party talks and keep its pledge to scrap its clandestine weapons program.

President Bush called the North Korean announcement provocative and unacceptable, though he said Washington is still trying to confirm the test. Nonetheless, Pyongyang's actions "constitutes a threat to international peace and security" and requires "an immediate response" from the Security Council, he said.

Soon after, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton asked the council to adopt a very strong resolution imposing new sanctions against the North aimed at curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, prohibiting all trade in military and luxury goods, and preventing "any abuses of the international financial system" that could contribute to the transfer or development of banned weapons.

The United States circulated a draft resolution late Monday that would condemn the test, demand that North Korea immediately return to six-party talks without precondition, and impose sanctions for Pyongyang's "flagrant disregard" of the council's appeal not to detonate a device. The draft, obtained by the Associated Press, was based on proposals circulated earlier Monday.

Japan's U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, the current council president, said all council members "emphasized that the response of the council should be strong, swift and very, very clear in its message and its action."

But just how long it will take members to agree on a resolution remains to be seen.

"There are several levels of negotiations still ongoing to get to an agreement on a sanctions resolution regarding North Korea, including meetings of the experts and of the five permanent members of the Security Council, plus Japan, planned for Tuesday," CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk reports from the U.N. "But there is consensus that a tough document will emerge because the greater concern is the perception that an international arms race will result if not enough is done."

The Bush administration repeatedly has said it has no plans to invade North Korea and military action appeared unlikely. But the U.S. proposed stringent U.N. sanctions on Monday, including a trade ban on military and luxury items, the power to inspect all cargo entering or leaving the country, and freezing assets connected with Pyongyang's weapons programs, according to a copy of the draft obtained by The Associated Press.

But CBS News national security correspondent David Martin says the U.S. government’s response may include a naval blockade of North Korea. Martin said the North doesn't have the capability to launch a nuclear-tipped missile yet, making the primary concern the possibility that Pyongyang might export nuclear material or technology to nations such as Iran or Syria, or to a terrorist group.

North Korea's U.N. ambassador Pak Gil Yon said the Security Council should congratulate his country instead of passing "useless" resolutions or statements.

Iranian state radio, meanwhile, blamed North Korea's reported nuclear test on U.S. pressure, saying the test "was a reaction to America's threats and humiliation."

Iran has said it will not abandon uranium enrichment despite the threat of international sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, which Tehran insists is purely for peaceful purposes.

Mr. Bush said the United States was still attempting to confirm that a nuclear test had actually taken place. Still, he said, "such a claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and security."

A U.S. government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of the situation, said the seismic event could have been a nuclear explosion, but its small size was making it difficult for authorities to pin down.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service chief Kim Seung-kyu reportedly told lawmakers signs of suspicious movement were spotted at another suspected test site.

The current members of the nuclear club are the United States, Russia, Britain, France, India, Pakistan and China. Israel is widely believed to have the bomb but has not publicly declared that it does.

[jw218389]

Good thing we went after Iraq because they were ready to nuke us - oh wait that's North Korea isn't it ? :-)

Bush is a greedy idiot.

[thgdriver]

Hey jw218389

Truman left us with all the problems we are having with North Korea when he fired Gen. Mac Arther. Eisenhower would have have nuked them in 1954, if they did not sign the cease fire. I personally, am sorry they signed.

If GWB is an idiot and got to be President, what does that make you?

Your name calling reflects your education.

[pknuts1]

doesn't any politician or members of the public realise that nuclear weapons and climate change are the most important events we face as ordinary people. why are we, the people still asking these questions after 30 years. has nobody ever learnt anything apart from us, the people? politicians always get it wrong because the servants of each state actually run those country's and they are not elected but do assume a great pension when they choose to take it. need i say more?

[patriotic9]

The involvement of Radical Christianity into American Politics has only resulted in suffering of United States and the American people in the form of 9/11,terrorism and hatred against us.Iraq was denying the accusation of building WMD but it was attacked whereas N.Korea which was openly claiming to build WMDs was left to their communist chinese brother to deal with because attacking Iraq would help second coming of Christ whereas N.Korea which is not in the Middle East was not even mention in thousands of years old bible which has thousands of versoin not even a single version is either written at the time of Jesus nor any of it's writer has any chian of link to Jesus .Now ultimately,N.koreans have built the nukes which we know they will use for business purpose.They will sell them in the black market to anybody who is capable of paying money.How long we Americans should continue to suffer on the hands of these Radical Christian Talibans?

[iloveamerica]

OH NO. NORTH KOREA TESTED THE NUKES!!!

[iloveamerica]

Time for us to test our nukes.....on North Korea.

[tomflint69]

There is nothing to worry about North Korea's nuke tests. I can see that since we the U.S has been very polite with Iran and we must remember that Iran is in strong position than the North Korea, soon Iran will also declare its nuke tests!
We should accept that for how long U.S will successfully stop countries of conducting nuke tests while maintaining a pile of its own?
Our intelligence reports which say Iran may take 8-10 years to conduct test; I dont believe such reports to be accurate and based on facts. The same surprise will Iran give to us.

[tomflint69]

antoniorego, you perfectly knows nothing! Norht Koreans arent persian/arab muslim goat herders! You must study the basic information about countries, their culture and people.

[patriotic9]

tomflint69
"There is nothing to worry about North Korea's nuke test"
Would you please tell me how can we check North Korea not to sell it's nuke to rich Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists who will definately use those nukes against us once they got'em.

[tomflint69]

Huh, countries have found a good excuse as well as time to conduct nuke tests while we are busy in Iraq and Afghanistan! and soon we are also leaving those two fronts getting nothing; not even oil from Iraq?????

[tomflint69]

patriotic9 , I agree with you but I what I am saying is in context of giving 'extra relaxations' to such countries; just we also let Iran palying games every day.
My comments not to worry are even a satire on what we have been doing.

[janemcgreeve]

Time to liberate North Korea and kill its babykilling thug - now.

Of course, let's see how the phonies - the neo-fascists react to this. Remember Clinton did nothing and Carter got their promise. What are they going to do about it?

Remember too, a big mouthed Democratic President who at least had some guts to fight - after he let Uncle Joe take over Eastern Europe - fired MacArthur when he could have finished the job and Korea would have been united.

Remember - I didn't say nuke 'em - the starving, tortured people there deserve better than the Communist thugs.

[patriotic9]

tomflint69
Now I got what you are saying.Even if it was a bad descion to go to iraq,I think we must bomb Iran before it build nukes.

[tomflint69]

Yes, exactly, suppose if we had destroyed Iranian nuclear installations say in the last month or earlier, not only did we prevent Iraians but also North Koreans to dare having carried out this test.
We are too late and just stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[zeekylord]

I will be very interested in how this pans out.

Did they set off a nuke? Or did they bluff and set off a cave full of TNT?

If they did indeed pop a nuclear device, then did it perform as well or less than expected? You can't really build these things in a barn. It takes a lot of study and lots of money.

I suppose they could have hired nuclear experts from the former Soviet Union. Some of them are sure to miss the bad old days of commie glory.

I'm sure that the truth will come to light soon enough. Every spy satellite in that general orbit would have been pointed at North Korea. Also - no matter what they said, there's bound to be some tell-tale radiation spike.

The obvious problem then will be what the heck to we do about it? Nuke the frakkers off the map? Write a strongly worded letter? More sanction? Form a coalition of the willing and march downtown Commieville? Or surgical millitary strikes?

Please stay tuned.

[searingtruth]

"I was really surprised that, after threatening to bash in his face for so long, he turned around and bashed in mine."
SearingTruth

"Threats of annihilation and death constitute not diplomacy, but war."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[missingamerica]

Now the question is whether the Administration, having knowingly misidentified one nation as being a WMD threat and subsequently having gotten bogged down in a cyclical guerrilla *** civil war in that nation, will respond to a proven WMD threat as their core constituency appears to desire.

In short, will the Administration feel the need to "beat the North Koreans to the draw" and "pull the nuclear trigger" in order to maintain their grip on the minds of the neoconservatives?

A couple of big old mushroom clouds will no doubt distract the electorate from such curiosities as Mark Foley, gasoline prices that respond more rapidly to electoral timing than supply and demand equations, a mishandled economy and war on terror, and so on.

[zeekylord]

Ummmm... yeah.

Exactly what you said, SearingTruth.

Perhaps you should lay off the payote?

"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."
-- Yoda

Ha ha... I hate Star Wars. More of a Trek guy - more money in it!

[searingtruth]

ibsteve2u:

I'm just waiting for the Republicans to blame President Clinton, the Democrats, the Easter Bunny, or Mickey Mouse et al for everything. Anything but their failed policies of brute force and advocacy of the inhumane. It's going to be a hoot.
ST

"Who can know truth, without compassion."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[zeekylord]

ibsteve2u...

Please don't give the Bush Administration any sliver of support for nuclear strikes.

You don't want your post being held up in the rose garden by George W. as his excuse to start WWIII.

I can practically feel Donald Rumsfeld tap dancing from here. Don't get me wrong... I like Rummy's personality, but his policy is horrible.

The world needs to stay conventional in this. China is a nuclear power, and if they get a sunburn from our nukes, they will totally pop one or sixty at us. Then Britain will fire at them. In return, Russia will fire at Britain. France will fire back at Russia. The only country that won't be glowing in the end will be Canada - 'cuz they have the sense not to stockpile nukes since they do have the know-how.

New episode of Jericho this week!

[searingtruth]

I agree. The nuclear genie has long been out of the bottle and it is only logical that many nations, which may have wanted to develop nuclear weapons anyway, can now use their real or faux fear of America as a reason for developing them. This Administration has created a much more dangerous world than it inherited, and there are no quick and easy answers to escape our predicament. Of course, responding with nuclear weapons ourselves would be sheer madness.

However, a good start would be restoring our Constitutional form of government, reaffirming our commitment to human rights, and pledging to never again engage in preemptive war. It is going to take many decades to restore our credibility and ability to influence the world in a positive way, but if we once again stand as Americans, it can be done.
ST

"Republicans are in a unique historical position. They are the first group of people raised on this land, who call themselves Americans, that openly proclaim the virtues of torture, secret prisons, extrajudicial abduction, universal surveillance, and dictatorial government."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[drgoodwin12]

Sure looks like we are doing a good job on nuclear proliferation and the Iraqi war http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2542696. It is time for new leadership,there is a house clause for ordinary citizens to call for the impeachment of the president. You can obtain it here http://ImoeachForPeace.org/ImpeachNow.html.

[patriotic9]

Now using nukes against Iran is the most important tool for us to win the war against terror and also to stop Iranian influence in Iraq,Syria and Lebanon.But in order to do that we need to make Iran alone in that region first which is not a difficult thing at all.We need to keep in our mind that Iran is the only country in that region which follows Shia Islam at official level.If we increase the hatred between Shias and Sunnis using our special agents before attacking Iran,nobody in the sunni world be bothered to see their INFIDEL SHIA ENEMIES killed.Also we'll have to avoid the mistakes we did in Iraq.In this type of UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE,it's more important to destroy the cities which will produce more SUICIDE BOBMERS specially the city of QOM,then to destroy the capital city TEHRAN.In Iraq we had all our focus on the capital BAGHDAD,but we ignored places like FALLUJAH and the AL-ANBAR province which controls insurgency much more then the capital.

[glidescube]

If it comes to war will little kim use his nukes knowing full well that Pyongyang will come up missing? If it stays conventional Ill be willing to wager that most of his troops will drop and run. All we have to do is have a huge Korean BBQ with all the trimmimgs on the front lines and the cost of admission to this picninc would be your AK47 and your surrender.

[patriotic9]

Glidescube
Do you think North Korea is so stupid to get directly engaged in war with USA.They will definately start selling their nukes to anybody who pay them good money.They have built the bombs for business reason.We have to find out how can we stop BIN LADEN and other terrorists to buy those nukes.

[tomflint69]

patriotic9, sure but there may not be need to induce Suni Shiate hatred in some special way. Pakistan is always there to help us and a good number of people dont know that in the war of 1973 fought between India and Pakistan, India gave its air bases to Iran for refueling and hitting Pakistani targets. So today if U.S asks Pakistan for any coordination/help, they would be there. Recently Pakistan's President has said that "Iran has no proper reason to make nukes".
Countries like India, China and Russia who have good ties with Iran may not like to help us.
Pakistan would be the most suitable place to hit IRan while preserving ouri nterests with China, Russia and India. Everyone would be happy.

[janemcgreeve]

Thank You Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright, for this. Clinton talked tough, but aceeded to North Korean lies that they wouldn't move on nukes. Miss Piggy even went to Pyongyang and toasted the insane babykiller in public.

And Jimmy Carter - the first living President who should be arraigned on charges of treason and giving aid and comfort to terrorists. He too went to North Korea and got "promises" from the dictator that he wouldn't go nuke. Heck, there's even a new book out complementing Carter for his negotiations (read: surrender) style.

I am only sorry that President Bush did NOT blast their nuclear sites before they became operative - I can only hope that crippled as he is by the Dems and the Neo-Nazis of the Left, he will have the courage to do so to Iran's sites.
Before Nevil Shute becomes a reality.

[exusmcsgt]

JaneMcGreeve-

I notice you give GWB a free pass on sitting on his hands diplomatically and just trading threats for the last six years.....

[exusmcsgt]

JaneMcGreeve-

And that approach has worked famously as we can all see. North Korea now has ICBM's and nukes.

[generey]

AND THE WORLD IS GONNA DO WHAT? (NOTHING-'CAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ANYBODY CAN DO)

[exusmcsgt]

GeneRey-

I disagree. What Kim Jong Il is doing is acting up like a poorly behaved teenager. Hid future is not found in nuclear war, but the threat of nuclear war.

Bush, et.al. have done nothing for six years but threaten him. Threats don't feed his people. This is poker on the grandest scale and if we continue to ignore him, he will get his revenue where he can. His interest is holding on to his perch as the North Korean's God. Nothing more or less.

[patriotic9]

tomflint69
First of all,thanks for such a great information which I was not aware of before.That'll definately make our job much easier.I didn't know that India which is on the eastern border of Pakistan had used Iranian bases for refeuling which is on the western border of Pakistan.But it does make sense to use Iranian bases to target pakistan from both east and west.It does also show that before doing that USA will have to do something in Pakistan to reduce the Shia influence in the Pakistani Govt like removing Shias from the higher ranks in military and govt.

[mjv2944]

Now we will see just how ineffective the UN has become. It has been diluted with third world countries. The problem with North korea and Iran is I am afraid they will sell or give the technology to whom ever they want, putting everyone in danger of radicals around the world. I think that Kim is the type that would use nukes. He doesn't seem too concerned that his people are starving. I believe he is a real nut case.

[gaye5]

Why should north korea worry about sanctions, nothing was done to France when they aquired nuclear...

Come on, of course North Korea wanted nuclear just as America and other countries have.

We know why we don't want North Korea to obtain nuclear, but from their point of view it would seem like we want supremacy...and for what???

Don't our leaders think that North Korea would wonder why we think it is provocative for them to go ahead and produce nuclear weapons??? especially when some countries now have nuclear and since when did other countries interfere in other nations business unless we are threatened.

We know why we don't want them to have it, but if I was an unarmed country I would definitely acquire nuclear simply to protect my country against countries who do.... and if I was ordered by these so called superior countries to give up my quest I would see this as suspicious...

[gslinger3]

What ever the outcome, I am glad that we have a president who is willing to take action against these rougue nations and their lunatic leaders, we are in good hands and I am sure whatever action President Bush takes will be the correct one. Peolple can hate President Bush for whatever reason they want to, but personally I wouldnt want anyone else in there when it comes to our national defense.

[nothappyatall]

oh YEAH gslinger, just what we need, BUSH going on the offensive against N Korea with it's nuclear bombs and 1.1 MILLION man army, a nut who already got us embroiled in a useless illegal war costing half a trillion dollars thathis own committee report said Iraq not only had NOTHING to do with 9/11 but also had NO WMD either.

We have troops on 3rd, 4th and 5th rotations, we have a plethora of equipment over there burned up and ground into the sand for 3 years- all those tanks, planes, vehicles, supplies, tents etc will have to be brought back here and replaced. All those vets- the THOUSANDS missing limbs and having other injuries we will be paying lifelong medical care for $50,000 periodic artificial limb replacements and all the rest. This ILLEGAL war will cost several times what they say it will.

We don't even have a military now capable- they are exhausted, the equipment now is JUNK, obsolete, repaired over and over, worn out.
N Koreas response is due to our sanctions on them and refusal to hold talks with them- they have asked for talks Bush refused, this is the result.
You'd better hope BUSH comes up with more money, because we paid off one country to not develope nukes and all the rest of them now want their share of the US money pie.

[edjohn66]

Well, I'm glad that W.'s plan of ignoring North Korea to focus on the "terrorists" in Iraq has worked SO WELL for us in Iraq, against terrorism, and now in North Korea.

The world is now FAR MORE DANGEROUS than it was before W. was president.

Is there anything that W. has done RIGHT as president?

[johnbrownjr1]

You Neocons always want to blame Clinton for everything bad in the world. This is just a big example how Bush mishandles US Foriegn Policy. There is NOTHING the US can do to North Korea and Kim Sung Il KNOWS it just as Iran KNOWS it. We are mired down in Iraq instead of being able to deal with situations such as this. Its time to rebuild our military on a scale like it was during the COld War. The 2nd Infantry Division in Korea is not even a complete division because mena and material has been rerouted to our vietnam in the middle east. The US needs a military capable of handling 2 and a half conflicts around the globe...then people will take us seriously once again. All Bush has done is make the whole world hate us and laugh...great foriegn policy Dubyah....you should have left the one man who had honor and integrity in your admin alone and that was Colin Powell....instead you keep nazis like CHeney and Rumsfeld. I can only hope and pray the American People vote your rubber stamp Reichstag out and make YOU accountable like the FBI is going to make Rep Foley. AMERICA...wake up before his necons make him dictator of the good ole US of A!

[nothappyatall]

Of course now that we attack N Korea- Bush's infamous "Axis of evil" comments, and threats of more sanctions, I'm sure they will happily give iran and any other terrorists the materials they want, we created our own enemy here and Bush's comments, and actions in Iraq shows N Korea we don't hesitate to invade on false pretexes, lies, bad intelegence, forged documents etc, so they will make sure we know they drop the bombs on US too now thanks to BUSH and his regime.
Come Nov I'm voting DEMOCRAT across the board no matter what, we need a balance and no more Repubic-CON controlled house and senate.

[paul_pitcl]

It is an old trick to create a crisis that only you can solve. Axis statements created an increase in development that would lead to more missle defense and more defense contracts. War and tension can be very profitable.

[blazercoach1]

Idiots on both sides totally blame the other side....no matter what. Look folks, BOTH Republicans and Democrats have been asleep. NOBODY woke up until we were hit on 9/11.

If Dems want to blame Bush for what is happening now, Reps have every right to blame Clinton for ignoring these things in the 90s. The truth is that NEITHER side was jumping up and down about these things until 9/11...and it was too late. Our ENTIRE GOVERNMENT failed us...Reps and Dems in whatever role they served. PREVENTING was not a huge priority for anyone. Perhaps it is fair to say Clinton was a poor watch-dog....and Bush is a poor janitor. Clinton didn't stop this from reaching a point of critical mass....Bush has done a horrible job handling a situation that he inherited. FAIR?

The question we have to ask ourselves is this: Which party/candidate has A PLAN to deal with the situation as it is RIGHT NOW? Not who%

[blazercoach1]

The question we have to ask ourselves is this: Which party/candidate has A PLAN to deal with the situation as it is RIGHT NOW? Not who can bash the other guy/girl the hardest..not who can come up with the catchiest bumper-sticker-yo-momma-joke about the other party.....not who was to blame...but who is going to LEAD us in the current situation. WHO HAS A PLAN? IS IT A GOOD PLAN? And if it's a bad plan...but nobody has a better idea.....than is SOMETHING better than NOTHING?

[blazercoach1]

Please read my following comments in reverse order.

[random_radar]

Now would be a good time to liberate North Korea. Too bad our military is already occupied liberating Iraq.

Its like buying a TV and then it goes on sale the next week.

Maybe we could pay the Chinese and Russians to invade North Korea for us? We ought to get something for all that foreign aid and trade, shouldn't we?

[cathaleen]

In the 50's we had to hide under our wooden desks in grade school to keep us safe from the Russians. That would have worked out well.
Now it's N Korea. Well I think our shelters have improved but our idiotology hasn't.

I'm much more skeptical about Pakistan have nuclears then N. Korea.

[mjv2944]

Cathaleen

They both scare the hell out of me, and throw India and Pakistan in there, and now I'm really scared. Problem being that we no longer have any credability in the world today, we have pis*ed it away on a war that should have never been started. I see no clear path to resloving the situation. Dems and Repubs are both to blame, no one party could possibly screw things up as bad as they are today.

[processor2]

It was the US who sold North Korea the technology to produce nuclear power, and now trouble is coming home to roost.

The year the US dold this technology was in 1994. Now, who was presisident in 1994? Bill something, or other.

[radioxr]

Seems NK is on the verge of global blackmail, a the least, and global war at worst. Will China set back or actively join the world community in more than a slap on the wrist? Clinton "legacy", indeed. Shake that finger in my face, Bill. That'll make me believe you.

[book54552134]

Some on within Extremist Right seek to blame all the problems Dubya & the Republicans have created, on Clinton & the Democrats. It's can't work anymore. Republicans have been in power too long. Democrats are not the panacea some partisan Democrats wish to portray them as. Clinton & the Democrats have made a great many mistakes in the past. But in comparison to the governing fiasco that have come from Dubya & Republicans during the last dozen or so years, Democrats really are beginning to look quite a bit like the lesser of two evils.

[fedora1958]

Here we go: Clinton Clinton Sha-Na-Na Clinton Clinton Sha-boom Sha-boom Personal Responsibility Clinton

Yes, that's right, go to any search engine and you'll find an impressive array of Right wing bloggers and Newsmax to prove our point.

(Sigh)

It isn't rocket science, people. In front of the world, Bush identifies 3 countries as an "Axis of Evil", and then he invades one of the three countries. And the other two countries scramble to arm themselves? Well, duh!

This is exactly what we're supposed to be in Iraq to prevent, or so we were told at the time.