US Says DPRK Is Responsible for Its Actions, Not The US
Amid being hammered by sanctions for its continued pursuit for nuclear weapons, the United States of America today said the North Korean regime continues to defy the international community with its ambitious policies on proliferation.
In her testimony in Washington DC, Special Representative for North Korea, Glyn Davies, said the DPRK regime flagrantly violates its obligations through its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, posing a growing threat to the United States and the global nonproliferation regime.
DPRK Continues to Defy the Interests of Its People and International Community
According to Ms Davies, the regimes devotes scarce resources to its illicit weapons programs, to its massive standing army, and to elaborate vanity projects for a privileged elite.
While the regime earnestly pursues creation of nuclear weapons, a majority of North Korea’s nearly 25 million people continue to suffer. In fact, the United Nations reports man crimes the DPRK regime has committed over decades constitute crimes against humanity. The regime has repeatedly threatened the United States, and its neighbors, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
“It is increasingly a global outlier in every sense.” – Ms. Davies
US Tightens Sanction On North Korea
Amid DPRK’s continued pursuit for proliferation, the US is tightening its sanctions.
Ms. Davies highlighted that the US is keeping pressure on Pyongyang or it will not give up the weapons it claims it needs.
US actions against DPRK is a comprehensive approach that seeks to denuclearize North Korea through diplomacy while ensuring deterrence of the North Korean threat.
Conclusion
Amid the sanctions, Ms. Davies emphasized that US policy aims to bring the DPRK to the realization that it must take the steps necessary to end its isolation, respect the human rights of its own people, honor its past commitments, and comply with its international obligations.
US On Denuclearizing North Korea
United States remains committed to a denuclearized North Korea that respects the rights of its citizens.
In June 2009, the United Nations unanimously adopted resolution 1874, imposing stricter sanctions on the recalcitrant regime.
The new resolution has 34 points, the first of which “Condemns in the strongest terms the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 25 May 2009 (local time) in violation and flagrant disregard of its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006), and the statement of its President of 13 April 2009 (S/PRST/2009/7).”
Since the adoption of Resolution 1874, countries have intercepted and seized tons of contraband cargo, including a massive arms shipment uncovered by Thailand in December. These interdictions show that countries are taking seriously their obligations to enforce these tough new measures. The United States will continue to press on sanctions implementation until there is concrete, verifiable progress on denuclearization.
Advancing human rights is a top U.S. priority in US North Korea policy as well and is among the primary factors that will determine if any long-term improvement between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be possible.
The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2094, strongly condemning North Korea’s highly provocative February 12 nuclear test and imposing significant new sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
US said the strength, breadth, and severity of these sanctions will raise the cost to North Korea of its illicit nuclear program and further constrain its ability to finance and source materials and technology for its ballistic missile, conventional, and nuclear weapons programs.
