UP Ibalon Bicol: North Korea

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North Korean arms shipment to Iran seized by United Arab Emirates

8/29/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

In violation to the sanctions of the United Nations (UN,) North Korea was caught with shipments of arms to Iran. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) intercepted a ship with arms, firing devices, grenades and explosives coming from the reclusive communist country of North Korea. Carried by a ship under Bahamian registry, the cargo was concealed as shipment of oil equipment.

“The Security Council voted on June 12 to adopt a resolution that punishes North Korea for its recent nuclear-bomb test and missile launches through cargo inspections and enforcement of restrictions on financial transactions. The measure calls for the interdiction at seaports, airports or in international waters of any cargo suspected of containing arms or nuclear or missile-related materials going to or from North Korea.”---- Bloomberg.com (08/28/09, Varner, Bill)

The United Arab Emirates unloaded the contraband cargo from North Korea and informed UN of the arms seizure contained in 10 container vans. The world body demanded Iran and North Korea (part of the axis of evil,) for explanation.

Iran consistently denied that its uranium program is not for atomic bomb development, but intended for plants to generate electricity. North Korea conducted bomb tests and denoted missiles in violation of UN sanctions. These are serious provocations which test how UN can enforce its power over dangerous nations in curtailing nuclear proliferation. (Iranmadeit) =0=

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Labels: atomic bomb, cargo, contraband, illegal, Iran, North Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Nations

Bill Clinton’s success in securing the release of two US journalists

8/06/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

In a happy note, former president Bill Clinton was able to negotiate the release of two US journalists who had been held prisoners in North Korea for 4 months on charges of “hostile acts” against the reclusive communist nation.

The two women of Asian descent Laura Ling and Euna Lee served as reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's California-based Current TV media venture. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor after they were picked up by North Korean soldiers near the China border.

Upon their return to the United States, the former detainees had an emotional reunion with their families. Appearing in a tearful news conference in Burbank, California on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, Ling and Lee thanked Bill Clinton and the entire American nation for the effort which gained their freedom.

“The trip and its diplomatic theatrics represent a sudden moment of goodwill and compromise between two countries with nearly 60 years of fractious relations that grew even more antagonistic over the past year.”---Fox News/ AP (08.05/09)

The negotiations to secure freedom for the American journalists had been going on for months. Controversy surrounded the deal with Kim Jong Il who snatched undetermined number and put them in prison. Bill Clinton came to meet with the dictator at a time when tensions between North Korea and the West over the former’s nuclear arms. Attempts to bring back the repressive communist regime to the 5-country disarmament negotiation table had so far been unsuccessful.

It appears the 67 year-old Kim Jong Il wanted to improve relations with the United States as he prepared his son as a successor-dictator after he suffered a stroke last year. The journalists’ walk away to freedom was a chance to project a “kinder” image of the imporverished government which had been encountering resistance within and outside the country. It would also help set a platform for renewed talks to deter nuclear arms proliferation by the North Koreans. =0=(Photo Credit: Reuters; AFP/ KCNA via KNS) =0=

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Labels: diplomacy, Euna Lee, Kim Jong-il, Laura Ling, North Korea, politics, Pres. Bill Clinton, prisoners, Totie Mesia

North Korea's nuclear threats

5/28/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Living in a delusion that dictatorships and rogue countries can be effectively handled with talks and negotiations, the United States and the United Nations are finding it increasingly hard to deal with the rising military posturing of North Korea.

The destitute communist country in Asia has detonated a 20 kiloton underground nuclear bomb in a display of belligerence against the will of the civilized world. The United States and its allies have still to find a way to curtail the provocations of Kim Jong Il which find it easy to ignore the lame warnings of the United Nations.

Unafraid of sanctions, North Korea is unimpressed by the 6-party disarmament talks aimed to diffuse tension and stop the dangerous proliferation of nuclear arms in the region. The puppet government of Kim Jong Il has come to the realization that rogue governments can have ways to brush aside UN resolutions, survive punitive sanctions, and earn dividends from wild stubborness. Seeing the weakness of Pres. Barack Obama and UN’s inability to effectively punish violators of covenants, the North Koreans are on a free rein to show their propagandistic power and terrorist capabilities.

“It is a laughable delusion for the United States to think that it can get us to kneel with sanctions… We've been living under U.S. sanctions for decades, but have firmly safeguarded our ideology and system while moving our achievements forward. The U.S. sanctions policy toward North Korea is like striking a rock with a rotten egg."---said an editorial in a North Korean newspaper. AP (05/27/09, Hyung-Jin Kim, Gutman, S; Ledere EM)

With this show of defiance, the United States and its allies must be ready to stop Pyongyang by considering strikes to destroy its nuclear facilities. Short of this, the world needs an effective deterrent and defense against the rising threat of nuclear proliferation. In the past, sanctions and resolutions have helped in some measure but aren't as effective as people want them to be.(Photo credit: Lucliu) =0=

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Labels: diplomacy, Kim Jong-il, North Korea, nuclear hazard, nuclear weapons, peace, Pyongyang, Security Council, Totie Mesia, United Nations, war

North Korea detonates an underground nuclear bomb

5/26/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

As if to tell the world, that countries can defy the United Nations (UN,) North Korea exploded an underground atomic weapon which was as powerful as the one that leveled Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. The 10 to 20 kiloton bomb generated an earthquake of about 4.5 in the northeastern part of North Korea. It was picked up by seismologists worldwide as Pyongyang officials affirmed the successful nuclear test on May 25, 2009.

Kim Jong Il’s nuclear bomb test, the second since 2006 is in defiance to the United Nation’s resolutions forbidding his country to develop nuclear weapon. A danger to world peace, the nuclear detonation followed last month’s launching of a ballistic missile which has the capacity to reach the US territory.

The UN expressed disapproval against the test-launch and North Korea was punished with greater sanctions. In retaliation, the communist regime of Kim Jong Il asked that the international nuclear inspectors leave the country. The North Koreans threatened to resume operation of Yongbyon nuclear reactor and refused participation in the six-party nuclear talks. Ignoring global condemnation,
Pyongyang insisted its nuclear activities serve to beef up its self-defense and are intended for “peaceful” purposes.

In a reaction to the recent bomb test, Pres. Barack Obama lamely speaks of the recklessness of North Korea whose growing belligerence he hopes to manage with diplomacy. He plans to seek help from allies and friendly nations to stop the North Koreans from producing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

But as the leaders of the communist dictatorship have learned, they have the power to ignore the world community. Having a nuclear arsenal is their bargaining chip----an effective tool to gain leverage, a way of catching the attention of the world.

The reclusive impoverished regime of Kim Jong Il has shown that it cannot be dictated by civilized countries in spite of attempts to isolate the country for violating international law and endangering the planet. The same message is what other nations with nuclear ambitions are learning. It appears provoking a crisis brings dividends because UN and its member nations aren’t ready to impose international covenants on errant governments like North Korea. A significant number of UN resolutions, no matter how well they are worded don't work. This may well be with the unanimous UN condemnation of North Korea for exploding the atomic weapon.

It is said that majority of nations approve of the international treaty to stop nuclear weapons testing. However, there are countries like North Korea, India, and Pakistan with nuclear capabilities which oppose the ban.(Photo Credit: cbv.ns.ca) =0=

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Labels: atomic bomb, explosion, hazard, Kim Jong-il, North Korea, nuclear detonation, nuclear hazard, nuclear weapons, Pyongyang, Totie Mesia, United Nations, weapons of mass destruction, WMD

After the Security Council’s condemnation, North Korea responds with its nuclear threats

4/15/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

North Korea (NK) was angered when the 15-member United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to condemn the failed launch of a long range missile early this month. Pyongyang insisted that the rocket was a satellite intended for peaceful purposes. Yet, it had been suspected that the missile was a test for long range ballistic technology.

The UN condemnation was based on a violation of a 2006 resolution that prohibited Pyongyang from all missile activities.

Accusing UN of interference, Kim Jong Il’s repressive regime quickly warned to restart its plutonium production, kick out UN inspectors, and walk away from the six-nation talks on disarmament.

Pointing to the failed rocket launch on April 5, 2009 which endangered territories such as Alaska and Hawaii, the United States was quick to advise NK to stop its provocations and abide with its commitments to the outside world.

"There is no need for six-party talks anymore," the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.-----Los Angeles Times (04/15/09, Richter, P; Glionna, JM)

Russia expressed its regrets and Japan, together with China (the host of the six party meeting) advised that countries---the United States, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Russia, and China must go back to the discussion table.

"We hope the relevant parties could proceed from the perspective of the overall interest of the region, so as to work together to safeguard the progress of the six-party talks," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a news briefing. ---- Washington Post (04/14/09, Branigin, W.; Kim S.)

Analysts believe Pyongyang’s new tantrums are the same tactics of precipitating a crisis in order to get what it wants from the world. Its rhetorical threats in the past have served the communist country well---with food aid, fuel and economic assistance as rewards of good behavior.

“North Korea outraged the world three years ago by exploding a small nuclear device. But less than a year later, as it turned brinkmanship into remuneration, it pledged to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for aid from the United States and other countries. “ ----Washington Post (04/14/09, Branigin, W.; Kim S.)

The effects of UN sanctions on NK aren’t as effective as desired. The destitute communist nation with an ailing supreme leader is able to exploit leverage, gain concessions by bold demands and vitriolic threats of an all out war with its neighbors. NK along with Iran continues to be a menace to the stability and peace of the world. (Photo Credits: Christianragen; Stephan x 2) =0=

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Labels: ballistic missle, North Korea, nuclear weapons, Pyongyang, Security Council, terrorism, Totie Mesia, United Nations

North Korea’s failed missile test sparks worldwide condemnation

4/06/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Against the resolutions of the United Nations (UN,) the North Korean government went ahead of the launching of a missile test that fizzled out in the Pacific Ocean. According to Pyongyang, the missile was supposed to be a satellite, but the outside world believed it was an experiment of a weapon technology that can threaten US territories like Alaska and Hawaii.

The United States Command which observed the launch from the Pacific said the “satellite” was a failure, but the rogue government of Kim Jong II was celebratory---insisting that the launch went well.

“Given the volatility in the region, as well as a stalemate in interaction among the concerned parties, such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability,"--- Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General Ban. Telegraph.co.uk (04/05/09, Foster, P)

The criticism and disappointment of Ban with North Korea is shared by US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who asserted North Korea’s action was “completely unacceptable.” Gordon said Pyongyang's communist regime, a threat to world peace and security, must stop the testing and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Japan's ambassador to the U.N., Yukio Takasu condemned the launch "a clear crime" versus U.N. Security Council demands that posed a grave threat to Japan.

The rocket launch was a violation of international agreements. The United Nations in New York went for an emergency meeting to thresh out ways (other than condemnation) to respond to the provocative action. However, it is doubtful if the world’s body of nations has the effective teeth to discipline a dangerous nation like North Korea. Since December last year, diplomatic talks on nuclear control with North Korea, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and the US (Six Party talks) have been not pushed through. (Photo Credit: Eric Lafforgue x 2 )=0=

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Labels: ballistic missle, Kim Jong-il, missile, North Korea, nuclear weapons, Pyongyang, Totie Mesia, United Nations

Richard Lugar Praises Obama on Foreign Policy

10/16/2008 | Posted by andygimpaya | Edit Post

Republican Indiana Sen. Richard G. Lugar and a prominent member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in his speech at the National Defense University that there are benefits to talking with enemies of the US, as against use of military force.

Generally, Lugar praised Barack Obama who John McCain called "naive" for saying that as US President he would talk with the likes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Isolation does not resolve contentious issues, Lugar added in agreement with Obama's line. In campaign speeches in a presidential debate, Obama repeatedly says that, while he does not take military option off the table, not talking to an enemy regime as a form of punishment does not make sense. Lugar rebuked McCaine by saying that exclusive use of isolation or military force in dealing with enemies of America may not be desirable. "In some cases, refusing to talk can even be dangerous."

McCain recently took a flack when he turned cold shoulder on the prospect of meeting the Prime Minister of Spain. Spain's sin: it pulled out its troops from Iraq when the US-initiated invasion started to get messy and unpopular. Since that time, President Bush has snubbed Spain's leaders, a cue apparently not lost to Senator McCain.

Noting recent diplomatic success in dealing with North Korea, Lugar suggested further diplomatic engagement with Syria and Iran. He suggested though that McCain may be right when the Republican nominee warned that "there are times when diplomatic approaches to rogue regimes have little efficacy."

In July, one Obama campaign ad mentioned Lugar by name and Lugar says he is "pleased" to have worked with the Democratic nominee on nuclear proliferation issues.

We here in the Philippines remember then Congressman Richard Lugar as the head of a US conressional committee who attempted and failed to broker a deal betwen President Ferdinand Marcos and Cory Aquino as the Marcos regime started to crumble in the aftermath of Ninoy Aquino assassination. At that time, Marcos was a SOB but "he is our SOB." Incidentally, Obama promises not to have none of these SOBs.

Labels: Barack Obama, Cory Aquino, diplomacy, Ferdinand Marcos, foreign policy, Iran, John McCain, Lugar, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, McCain, North Korea, Obama, Republican, Richard G. Lugar, Syria

Iran's Ahmadinejad & the Impotence of the United Nations

9/24/2008 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Side by side with the financial crisis rocking America, the threat of terrorism showed its ugly head when Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made a controversial speech in the United Nations (UN) in New York City today September 23, 2008, highlighting the impotence and hypocrisy of current world politics. His allusion to a pessimistic outlook of America is as though the United States is alone in its march towards a rough ride into the future.

Faced with a global economy, exploding population, dwindling resources, differing value judgments and relativist view of truth, America shares its problems with everybody. This is what is happening in the current economic crisis. The financial flu sweeping the United States is threatening to be a world pandemic of economic and political woes whose end result for the world is scary to imagine.

Wishing bad things to happen for America isn't good to the peace and stability of its global neighbors. Just as the full-blown effects of the present US economic downturn are starting to be felt, the world waits on the edge; nobody knows how it will end. But even without this, Iran has been suffering under the current Islamic regime of Ahmadinejad. Outside the UN headquarters, he is met by protests and jeers by those who disagree with him.

The United Nations (UN) has been inutile in convincing Iran to stop its nuclear program. Effective in fighting certain world problems, UN is “forced” to give air time to Ahmadinejad whose horrific support for terrorism and promotion to destroy Israel sends goose bumps to decent people worldide. Most observers doubt Ahmadinejad's hyperbolic rhetorics and many don’t believe his vitriol and clever pretentions. With a sluggish UN, few nations however speak up and stand against his way.

For not suspending its uranium enrichment, three rounds of UN sanctions hasn't deterred Iran from continuing its nuclear activities. It's this type of UN sanctions that Sadam Hussein endured until after 16 unheeded resolutions which led to the Iraq war that was supported albeit lamely by the UN.

The possibililty of nuclear war is ever more real in the current stockpiles of weapons whose oversight is increasingly becoming more difficult. Serving as a political tool and a weapon of intimidation, the acquisition of nuclear arms by unstable countries like Iran, Pakistan and North Korea is a scary step towards the planet's destruction. It encourages terrorists and extremists to work harder to destabilize the world and make the nuclear cloud closer to reality.

With rogue nations sitting side by side in UN in “cooperation” with those committed to make the world a peaceful place, the challenge of diplomacy is ever more complex and daunting. The world body cannot even agree on who are the terrorists. Having reckless leaders like Ahmadinejad who denies the holocaust, lacks accountability, threatens Israel, and wages proxy wars (Hezbollah and Iraq) could be the signs of what lies in the future. It’s at this late hour that world is learning. Sooner or later, it must wake up and confront the reality at hand. Photo Credits: Ben Heine; Nickolette22; MihaiRomanciuc)=0=

Labels: economy, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq War as God's Will, Islam, Israel, North Korea, nuclear weapons, Pakistan, peace, politics, Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, terrorism, Totie Mesia, United Nations, USA

Enigmatic Kim Jong-il & the future of North Korea's nuclear arms

9/10/2008 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The news is abuzz with speculations that Kim Jong-il, the strong communist leader of North Korea, one of the most secretive and reclusive communist regimes in the world with strong military power is incapacitated.

Short, pudgy, and known for his platform shoes and liking for Hollywood movies, the bouffant-haired strongman (believe to be 67 years old,) is suspected to be ill, possibly downed by a stroke sometime in the middle of last month. Since then he has not been visible in the government functions. Some theorize his death. Others believe he has been replaced by a double.

Amidst denial from the North Korean government, this brings a new uncertainty on the future of a repressive dictatorship in an impoverished nation which brings chills to the world for its possession of nuclear weapons. Jong-il's alleged illness since August can stall the little gains of nuclear arms control brokered by the United States in the region. (Photo Credit: Nick Papniconstainou)=0=

Update:
On September 11, 2008, North and South Korean officials affirmed that Kim Jong-il had a stroke which required brain surgical intervention. It remains to be seen if full recovery is in the offing.=0=

Labels: Kim Jong-il, North Korea, nuclear weapons, USA

UP Ibalon Bicol

North Korean arms shipment to Iran seized by United Arab Emirates

Bill Clinton’s success in securing the release of two US journalists

North Korea's nuclear threats

North Korea detonates an underground nuclear bomb

After the Security Council’s condemnation, North Korea responds with its nuclear threats

North Korea’s failed missile test sparks worldwide condemnation

Richard Lugar Praises Obama on Foreign Policy

Iran's Ahmadinejad & the Impotence of the United Nations

Enigmatic Kim Jong-il & the future of North Korea's nuclear arms

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