The U.S. Speaks with One Voice Against Belligerent Threats, Dangerous Actions by North Korea
There are no easy answers when it comes to a regime like North Korea. However, if we speak with one voice — Congress, the Executive Branch and the international community we maximize the likelihood of success, which is nothing less than a Korean Peninsula that is at peace.
U.S. foreign policy is the most effective when bipartisan cooperation leads to sound policies. Leaving politics at the water’s edge isn’t a trite or antiquated adage on critical national security issues.
This week, the Senate will rise to the occasion when it takes up legislation to impose new sanctions on North Korea in response to its provocative actions that endanger American and global security.
On January 6th, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test which it followed this weekend with a long range missile test. These actions remind us that although North Korea is a poor and internationally isolated state, it has developed advanced capabilities that threaten global peace and security. North Korea is perfecting missile technology that can hit American cities, as well as Seoul and Tokyo.
“…although North Korea is a poor and internationally isolated state, it has developed advanced capabilities that threaten global peace and security.”
North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation is a serious issue and congressional critics are united on legislation to halt North Korea in a bicameral and bipartisan way, just as they were a few years ago against Iran as it approached nuclear weapons capability.
The legislation imposes American sanctions on people and businesses anywhere in the world that are found to be sending goods, technology, service, training, or advice about weapons of mass destruction or their delivery to the North Korea regime or that sell critical raw materials that support North Korea’s dangerous activities.
The legislation also takes critical action to penalize North Korea’s for its cyber terrorism, including its attack on Sony Pictures. This is an important action against North Korea, but it also sends a message to other cyber criminals about American resolve in cyberspace.
“The legislation also takes critical action to penalize North Korea’s for its cyber terrorism …”
Even isolated regimes like North Korea are tied to the global trade and financial systems in ways that provide the international community with leverage to seek changes in North Korean behavior.
Significantly, the legislation also imposes sanctions for the severe human rights abuses committed by the Pyongyang regime.
The vast majority of North Koreans endure systematic violations of their most basic human rights. Widespread malnutrition, torture, and fear have made North Korea one of the most egregious human rights violators in the post-WWII era — a fact that is well-documented by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry. It is well past time to hold Pyongyang responsible for its actions.
“Widespread malnutrition, torture, and fear have made North Korea one of the most egregious human rights violators in the post-WWII era …”
I have no illusions about the likelihood that this legislation will immediately change North Korean behavior or bring North Korea back to the negotiating table. But tough sanctions have worked in the past with on North Korea. In 2005, the U.S. designated Banco Delta Asia (BDA) for facilitating North Korean illicit activities and banned all U.S. financial institutions from dealing with the Macau bank.
North Korea was shunned by the international financial system. Two dozen financial institutions — including Chinese banks — voluntarily cut back or terminated their business with North Korea. Both North Korea and China moderated their positions. Unfortunately, after time had passed, they went back to business as usual. This legislation seeks to remedy that relapse.
Finally, this legislation acknowledges that sanctions and diplomacy are most effective when integrated into a comprehensive strategy that engages all of our instruments of national power. Effectively enforcing sanctions against North Korea is not something that the United States can do alone — it requires our allies, our partners, and the rest of the global community to join in this effort. This legislation seeks to create the framework that makes such a multilateral effort possible — we should recall that it was bipartisan action by Congress, combined with the massive international support generated by the Administration — that financially isolated Iran and brought it back to the negotiating table.
China and Russia must be part of this multilateral effort, abiding by sanctions and working toward decisive unified action by the United Nations Security Council to impose a global mandate on North Korea for its continued threat to peace and security.
Of course, no policy to counter the North exists absent a solid foundation for policy rooted in the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK). This partnership remains as firm and resilient as ever, and stands ready to defend and respond harshly against any and all provocations by North Korea.
There are no easy answers when it comes to a regime like North Korea. However, if we speak with one voice — Congress, the Executive Branch and the international community we maximize the likelihood of success, which is nothing less than a Korean Peninsula that is at peace.
