The United States is making every effort to avoid all-out war with North Korea. There can be no mistake by nations around the world, friend or foe, that the patience of the world’s only super power has been admirable.
The sanctions attempt is now reaching the highest order. In an effort to further isolate North Korea with tough measures, including an oil embargo, The U.S. called for a partial naval blockade, the Guardian reported.
In language alien to diplomatic speak, the draft United Nations resolution proposed to authorize naval vessels of any U.N. member state to inspect North Korean ships suspected of carrying banned cargo. The draft order, direct from the president, is to use “all necessary measures to carry out such inspections,” the Guardian reported.
After Russia and China threatened to veto the proposed resolution, it was watered down.
One is left to wonder what the next step will be if the watered-down sanctions are unsuccessful. It may rely almost totally on how China reacts. Will they continue to supply North Korea by land, or join in a last-ditch effort short of military action?
The implications of such a resolution would be far-reaching since any attempt to board or divert a North Korean vessel could trigger an exchange of fire. What will be the U.S. reaction to such a scenario?
Nevertheless, with the thought of millions of civilian casualties in mind should military action occur, the U.S. delegation is working hard to diffuse the situation. North Korea launched their nuclear test last Sunday. It was considered their biggest yet.
The draft resolution didn’t stop there. It called for freezing the assets of Kim Jong Un and his top leaders. Bringing the U.N. into the fold is unpopular with both the Chinese and the Russians. The U.S. had decided to make the crisis a worldwide referendum. It would have applied more pressure for the two communist powers to act accordingly as members of a worldwide body.
Unfortunately, the threat of a veto made it necessary to remove some parts of the tough resolution.
The amended resolution was passed unanimously.
A least the Russians are unlikely to veto a resolution on their own. The question remains what North Korea’s primary ally and trading partner, China, will do?
At some point, China will have to compromise or walk away from the U.N.; it is as simple as that. That is highly unlikely with the whole world holding its breath.
