The United Nations Security Council showed its solidarity on
Saturday in responding to North Korea for its October 9 nuclear
test. Its unanimous vote on imposing sanctions on North Korean and
individuals supporting its military program sent a strong,
necessary message that North Korean should cease its nuclear weapon
program.
Calling its nuclear test "a clear threat to international peace
and security," the Council demanded that the country return
immediately to the negotiations without precondition.
The UN should respond appropriately to the nuclear test by North
Korean. The irresponsible act of the country goes against its
commitment enshrined in the joint statement it signed with five
countries in Beijing last September during the Six-Party Talks.
Saturday's vote demonstrated the UN's strong resolution, which
is also aimed at preventing a further escalation of tension.
It is a resolution with both punishment and encouragement.
The Council's condemnation on North Korean's nuclear test is
clear and firm, followed by the same clear and affirmative demand.
North Korea is asked not to conduct any further nuclear test or
launch a ballistic missile.
On the list of items banned by the sanctions is any material for
weapons of mass destruction or ballistic missiles, coupled with
luxury goods.
North Korean totally rejects the resolution and accuses the
Security Council of unfairness and double standards.
North Korean's representative told the Council his country was
ready for both dialogue and confrontation. He claimed that if the
United States persistently increased pressures upon North Korean,
it would continue to take physical countermeasures because it
considered these pressures as a declaration of war.
Though a resolution that carries punitive sanctions on North
Korean is in place, prudence is still needed. The countries
involved should refrain from taking any provocative approaches that
may intensify the tensions.
The Six-Party Talks were the forum established for a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and should be maintained to work for
this purpose.
China opposes North Korean's nuclear test, which not only defies
its international commitments but also causes tensions in East Asia
and the world at large.
In this sense, the Security Council's response was an approach
the international community had to take.
The UN resolution sent a necessary call to North Korean to
immediately retract its announced withdrawal from the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, return to that pact, and
works with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Without the threat of use of force, the resolution, the second
on North Korean in four months, offers leeway for diplomatic
endeavors to handle North Korean's nuclear issue outside
sanctions.
The resolution carries the articles encouraging diplomacy that
may push North Korean back to the Six-Party Talks. Furthermore, it
encourages North Korean to comply with the resolution.
(China Daily October 16, 2006)
