North Korea did not like the move of the United Nations to issue sanctions against its recent missile testing over the East Asia Sea. The nation, led by Kim Jong-un, will be hit by one of the most severe sets of economic authorizations from the UN Security Council ever slapped on any country since the establishment of the body.
American bully
According to the New York Times, North Korea has warned that it will not hesitate to take any military action against the United States in retaliation for the sanctions. Kim Jong-un called the action "a response of an American bully".
The country also promised that it will continue pushing for its nuclear arms program.
The sanctions were said to be an effort of the United Nations to pressure North Korea into negotiating with the long-term vision of a state-wide renouncement of its nuclear weapons. It is estimated that the sanctions will affect up to $1 billion of North Korea’s trade earnings on an annual basis.
During a regional ministerial meeting in Manila, North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho has denounced the sanctions from the United Nations. Yong-ho insisted that his country will never give up on the investment it has put out in the nuclear program’s missiles and rockets. The official news agency of North Korea has also released a more threatening statement: “There is no bigger mistake than the United States believing that its land is safe across the ocean.”
Role of China & Russia
Experts, however, say that the success of the sanctions will only be felt if China and Russa, the two most prominent allies of Kim Jong-un, will be able to effectively squeeze the North’s economy.
However, this is something that they have not been able to do in the past. It has also been pointed out that importing oil was not discussed in the United Nations sanctions, even when it is known that oil is a critical element to the overall function of the North Korean government machine.
On the other hand, the United States, particularly led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and United Nations ambassador Nikki R.
Haley, has lauded the decision. President Trump tweeted “China and Russia voted with us. Very big financial impact.”
It can be remembered that the latest missile test done by North Korea last month was notable because nuclear pundits have concluded that US cities may be in danger in the future. Kim Jong-un was aware that the missile that was launched was strong enough to breach Japanese airspace, hitting the sea that is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.
