Sanction America, Not North Korea
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Ideally, sanctions should be abolished, prohibited for any reasons.
They’re counterproductive, achieving pain and suffering alone for ordinary people in targeted countries, nothing else.
As long as they’re permitted, legally by Security Council members alone, illegal unilaterally, sanction America for its high crimes of war and against humanity, not North Korea, threatening no other countries - even though a US veto would block adoption.
A symbolic 14 - 1 statement would send a powerful message, especially if enough world community nations no longer are willing to put up with endless US wars on humanity.
The leadership of any country threatened by Washington would be foolhardy not to seek powerful weapons and munitions for self-defense.
Abandonment of powerful weapons programs by Iraq and Libya led to their rape and destruction by US-led aggression - a lesson well understood in Pyongyang.
Vladimir Putin explained it, saying sanctions on North Korea are a “road to nowhere. (They’re) useless and ineffective (because) they will eat grass but they will not turn away from the path that will provide for their security.”
“What can establish security? The restoration of international law. We should promote dialogue among all interested parties.”
Nothing else can defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula. Perhaps Putin will explain why he approved “useless and ineffective” sanctions on Monday instead of ordering Washington’s resolution vetoed - the responsible thing he failed to do.
Appeasing America is counterproductive, a lesson Russia learned long ago but seems to forget.
The problem on the Korean peninsula lies in Washington, not Pyongyang.
US recognition of DPRK sovereignty, resolving an uneasy armistice, halting provocative military exercises, removing THAAD missile systems from South Korea (deployed against China and Russia, not the DPRK), and agreeing to six-party talks, no preconditions imposed, would go a long way toward stepping back from the brink.
Kim Jong-un’s government is eager for diplomatic talks - provided they’re genuine, not agreements on key issues to be violated by Washington like earlier.
From bitter experience, Pyongyang is justifiably leery about America’s consistent bad faith, an untrustworthy partner in any talks.
In response to newly imposed Security Council sanctions, DPRK ambassador to Russia Kim Yong-jae accused Washington of unacceptable toughness on his country, saying:
“The US, instead of accepting the reality and making the right choice, is trying to use our justifiable self-defense measures as a means to completely strangle our country.”
He blasted new Security Council sanctions, saying they “grossly” violate DPRK sovereignty and “openly challenge” its government,” adding:
“US-drafted sanctions resolution forcibly imposed on the UN Security Council, which turned into an instrument of the United States, is illegal. Therefore, we completely reject and strongly condemn this resolution.”
“We have been living under US sanctions for decades. If the United States expects that we will…change our position, it is a huge illusion.”
Imposing them wasn’t to change DPRK policies. It was to punish its people severely, wanting them to rebel, a futile aim based on past experience.
Nine rounds of Security Council sanctions since 2006 (after Pyongyang’s first nuclear test), hardened its resolve to continue pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile development.
The tougher unilateral US or forced Security Council sanctions become, the more determined North Korea will be to pursue the strongest self-defense measures possible.
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