North Korea has "nothing to fear" from more sanctions
- 7 years ago
North Korea has nothing to fear from any US move to broaden sanctions aimed at cutting it off from the global financial system.
Envoys say Pyongyang will pursue an “acceleration” of its nuclear and missile programmes.
Exclusive: North Korea has no fear of U.S. sanctions move, will pursue nuclear arms – envoy https://t.co/zYpGX4V0cj— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
What does this mean, in concrete terms?
Developing a “pre-emptive first strike capability” and an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to Choe Myong Nam, deputy ambassador at the DPRK UN mission in Geneva
The context
Quoting a senior US official in Washington on Monday, Reuters said the Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions as part of a broad review of measures to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.
“I think this is stemming from the visit by the US Secretary of State to Japan, South Korea and China..we, of course, are not afraid of any act like that,” Choe said.
“Even prohibition of the international transactions system, the global financial system, this kind of thing is part of their system that will not frighten us or make any difference.”
EXCLUSIVE: Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions against North Korea – U.S. official. https://t.co/Q8026DHzY7 pic.twitter.com/rB4RGTHTmw— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
“Heinous and inhumane”
Choi called existing sanctions “heinous and inhumane”.
North Korea has been under sanctions for “half a century” but the communist state survives by placing an emphasis on “self-sufficiency”.
Pyongyang wants a forum set up to examine the “legality and legitimacy of the sanctions regime”.
He denounced joint annual military exercises currently being carried out by the US and South Korea on the divided peninsula.
Choi also criticised remarks by the US secretary of state during his talks with regional allies last week.
“All he was talking about is for the US to take military actions in DPRK,” Choe said.
UPDATE: North Korea has nothing to fear from any U.S. move to broaden sanctions against it – Pyongyang envoy— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
Military drills
North Korea rejects claims by Washington and Seoul that the military drills are defensive. They involve strategic nuclear bombers and a nuclear submarine that recently entered South Korean ports, Choe said.
“In the light of such huge military forces involved in the joint military exercises, we have no other choice but to continue with our full acceleration of the nuclear programmes and missile programmes. It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the US and South Korea.”
“We strengthen our national defense capability as well as pre-emptive strike capabilities with nuclear forces as a centrepiece.”
The US and South Korea are staging military exercises as part of a plan to “decapitate” the North Korean leadership https://t.co/lxj4JKbLfg— New York Post (@n
Envoys say Pyongyang will pursue an “acceleration” of its nuclear and missile programmes.
Exclusive: North Korea has no fear of U.S. sanctions move, will pursue nuclear arms – envoy https://t.co/zYpGX4V0cj— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
What does this mean, in concrete terms?
Developing a “pre-emptive first strike capability” and an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to Choe Myong Nam, deputy ambassador at the DPRK UN mission in Geneva
The context
Quoting a senior US official in Washington on Monday, Reuters said the Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions as part of a broad review of measures to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.
“I think this is stemming from the visit by the US Secretary of State to Japan, South Korea and China..we, of course, are not afraid of any act like that,” Choe said.
“Even prohibition of the international transactions system, the global financial system, this kind of thing is part of their system that will not frighten us or make any difference.”
EXCLUSIVE: Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions against North Korea – U.S. official. https://t.co/Q8026DHzY7 pic.twitter.com/rB4RGTHTmw— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
“Heinous and inhumane”
Choi called existing sanctions “heinous and inhumane”.
North Korea has been under sanctions for “half a century” but the communist state survives by placing an emphasis on “self-sufficiency”.
Pyongyang wants a forum set up to examine the “legality and legitimacy of the sanctions regime”.
He denounced joint annual military exercises currently being carried out by the US and South Korea on the divided peninsula.
Choi also criticised remarks by the US secretary of state during his talks with regional allies last week.
“All he was talking about is for the US to take military actions in DPRK,” Choe said.
UPDATE: North Korea has nothing to fear from any U.S. move to broaden sanctions against it – Pyongyang envoy— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 21 mars 2017
Military drills
North Korea rejects claims by Washington and Seoul that the military drills are defensive. They involve strategic nuclear bombers and a nuclear submarine that recently entered South Korean ports, Choe said.
“In the light of such huge military forces involved in the joint military exercises, we have no other choice but to continue with our full acceleration of the nuclear programmes and missile programmes. It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the US and South Korea.”
“We strengthen our national defense capability as well as pre-emptive strike capabilities with nuclear forces as a centrepiece.”
The US and South Korea are staging military exercises as part of a plan to “decapitate” the North Korean leadership https://t.co/lxj4JKbLfg— New York Post (@n