Home World Asia US Ready to Defend South Korea Against DPRK’s Aggression

US Ready to Defend South Korea Against DPRK’s Aggression

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Citing the unacceptable rhetoric from the North Korean Government against South Korea in the last days, the United States of America today reaffirmed its commitment to protect and defend South Korea from North Korea’s aggression.

In his remarks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se after their meeting in Washington DC, US Secretary of State John Kerry says he doesn’t want to speculate on North Korea’s intent or whether there’s a strategy or not a strategy for its recent threats againts South Korea.

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Park Geunhye became the eleventh and current president of South Korea.

“The bottom line is very simply that what Kim Jong-un has been choosing to do is provocative, it is dangerous, reckless, and the United States will not accept the DPRK as a nuclear state.” – Secretary Kerry

He reiterates that the United States will do what is necessary to defend itself and defend its allies, Korea and Japan.

Secretary Kerry says they are fully prepared and capable of doing so, and he thinks the DPRK understands that.

US ready to defend its ally South Korea

According to Secretary Kerry, no one takes lightly, least of all the President of the United States, what has been happening, which is precisely why the President made the decision to redeploy missile defense with respect to the United States itself as well as to take other preparations in the region.

US sends a very clear signal to our allies and the North alike that the United States will defend its allies and that it will not be subject to irrational or reckless provocation.

Secretary Kerry points out that the United States believes there is a very simple way for North Korea to rejoin the community of nations and make it clear that they want to pursue a peaceful path.

And they can come back to the table and join all of those other countries, including their nearest neighbor and partner, China, obviously shared nearest neighbor with the Republic of Korea, but China which has such an important role to play and which has always maintained a closer relationship to the North than any other country.

He reiterates they are prepared to help them with if they will bring their behavior in line with the United Nations and global community requirements.

A GI comforts a grieving infantryman.

“So it’s very simple: We are going to proceed thoughtfully and carefully, as the President has indicated, but we take nothing for granted. And we also are not indifferent to the meaning of the risks that are involved.” – Secretary Kerry

Both countries agreed to further strengthen credible and robust deterrence vis-a-vis North Korea’s nuclear and conventional provocations.

Both countries reportedly made progress in the tailored extended deterrence and the counter-provocation plan.

US and South Korea celebrate 60 years of alliance

According to Secretary Kerry, US and South Korea are two very close friends, countries, that have traveled a very interesting journey together for 60 years now.

“We celebrate 60 years of this alliance.” – Secretary Kerry

He says the United States and the Republic of South Korea, Republic of Korea for decades have worked side-by-side as allies.

Both countries have stood up to a wide range of challenges over that period of time, not just in the Asia Pacific, but in other parts of the world as well.

“When you look back at our common commitment to democracy, to human rights and to rule of law, it’s no wonder that we have been such natural partners.” – Secretary Kerry

US-South Korea alliance remains critical to American engagement in Asia, Secretary Kerry highlighted.

“And it is a linchpin of peace and stability in the region.” – Secretary Kerry

He reiterates that the United States is completely committed to deepening this relationship in the years ahead.

US and South Korea share goal of a peaceful Korean Peninsula, free of nuclear weapons

Both countries agree that improved relations between North and South would ultimately help to move us towards that goal.

Secretary Kerry says that is a stated goal of the new President of the Republic of Korea, and US looks forward to working with her to achieve that goal.

While in Washington DC, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se reaffirmed South Korean government’s strong commitment to work closely with the United States on North Korea policy.

Both countries reportedly agreed that North Korea should abandon its nuclear ambitions and bellicose rhetoric.

Both countries also agreed to collaborate to ensure full implementation of the UN’s Security Council Resolution 2094.

US says North Korea’s nuclear test has costly consequences

The US is working with the international community to make clear that North Korea’s nuclear test has costly consequences.

In adopting Resolution 2087 in January after the December launch, the UN Security Council pledged to take “significant action” in the event of a nuclear test.

US is also strengthening its close coordination with its Six-Party partners and regional allies.

And through a whole-of-government approach, working closely with its partners in the Department of Defense and other agencies, US will take the steps necessary to defend itself and its allies, particularly the ROK and Japan.

In addition, reassured both Seoul and Tokyo, at the highest levels, of our commitment to extended deterrence through the U.S. nuclear umbrella, conventional capabilities, and missile defense.

US indicates North Korea’s WMD, ballistic missile, conventional arms, and proliferation activities constitute a serious and unacceptable threat to U.S. national security, to say nothing of the integrity of the global nonproliferation regime, which many around the world have labored over generations to devise, nurture, and enforce.

US asserts effective, targeted multilateral and national sanctions will consequently remain a vital component of its efforts to impede the DPRK’s efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and proliferation activities.

Combined with the measures in resolutions 1718 and 1874, UNSCR 2087 further constricts North Korea’s efforts to procure weapons components, send agents abroad, smuggle dual-use items, and make headway on its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, Mr. Davies noted.

The US is actively engaged with the international community to underscore the importance of full enforcement of these measures.

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.

Last month, 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.

Resolution 2094 imposes tough new financial sanctions

Through the resolution, when North Korea tries to move money to pay for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, countries must now block those transfers, even if the money is being carried in suitcases full of bulk cash.

Likewise North Korean banks will find it much harder to launder money for the DPRK nuclear program, she said.

Countries must also now prevent the travel of people working for designated companies involved in the nuclear and missile programs.

In addition, states will now have new authorities to inspect cargo and stop North Korean arms smuggling and proliferation.

US says the new resolution also makes it harder for North Korean vessels to offload such prohibited cargo if a ship refuses inspection on the high seas, thus forcing it to return to its port of origin.

Resolution 2094 counter DPRK’s efforts in advancing nuclear activities

The resolution will also counter North Korean efforts to abuse diplomatic privileges to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile activities.

US says it will now be much harder for such diplomats to procure technology or divert funds to the nuclear program without being detected and expelled.

Resolution 2094 further bans the transfer to and from North Korea of specific ballistic missile, nuclear, and chemical weapons-related technology.

In addition, it lists new prohibited items and calls on states to block any item at all that could contribute to these activities.

It also names additional North Koreans and North Korean companies whose assets will be frozen, and those individuals will also be subject to a travel ban.

This resolution lists a number of luxury goods that cannot be sold to North Korea as well.

Sanctions Will Bite DPRK Hard

US said these sanctions will bite and bite hard.

The sanctions increase North Korea’s isolation and raise the cost to North Korea’s leaders of defying the international community, she added.

US asserts that far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation, North Korea has instead again opted to further impoverish its people and increase its isolation.

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.

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn’t preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.

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