North Korea: uh, What's a luxury item?

In light of the new nuclear North Korea, the world powers have dropped the military option (chapter 7) and are now debating the finer points of luxury goods. Luxury goods? WTF is a luxury good in North Korea?  Tree bark? Stale bread and dirty water?

China and Russia are balking at a new draft United Nations Security Council resolution being circulated by the U.S. that would prohibit countries from sending military and luxury goods to North Korea as well as industrial items that could be used in weapons programs. Article here.

Photo: Contrast: North Korea is dark but South Korea shines in this enlightening satellite picture.

As the satellite picture shows, bright ideas can have black consequences. Communist North Korea might be able to build a nuclear bomb, but its people are now so poor and starved that many are reportedly driven to eat the bark off trees. Herald Sun  hat tip jan p

U.S. Softens North Korea Sanctions Proposal After Objections From China and Russia

It ain't good folks. Not at all. It is almost embarrassing.

To those who might claim that the indecision encouraged Iran to believe that it had little to fear from the Security Council in next week’s scheduled debate, Mr. Bolton expressed confidence that the Council would take firm action. “I’m sure they’re watching in Tehran,” he said.
[...]

The latest draft drops the idea of a weapons embargo and keeps a provision to allow nations to inspect cargo to and from North Korea. The provision has aroused particular objections from China, which is wary of such interdiction moves being conducted off its coasts. American officials, while acknowledging how difficult it will be to win Security Council backing for the tough sanctions they prefer, insist that even a weaker resolution would send a strong signal of international condemnation.

The draft still would require all countries to prevent the sale or transfer of arms, luxury goods and material related to North Korea’s nuclear, ballistic missile and unconventional weapons programs. It also maintains a ban on travel by North Korean officials connected to those programs and a freeze on their assets.

Mention of curbs on activities benefiting North Korea like “counterfeiting, money-laundering or narcotics” was dropped, but Mr. Bolton said those activities were covered by the resolution’s freeze of North Korean assets, which includes those from “illicit means.”

Poor Mr. Bolton

“In light of the fact that North Korea has claimed a test of a nuclear device, we need stronger language,” he said.

The Queen said;

"I think the Chinese clearly understand the gravity of the situation,'' Rice said. "They clearly understand that the North Koreans in doing this have made the environment much less stable and much less secure, and they're working very hard in New York. But I believe we'll get a very good resolution that will demonstrate to the North Koreans that the international community is very much united in its condemnation of this test.'' More here

But do you, my little academe, "understand the gravity of the situation." This from a woman that made this statement Wednesday night, ""there could be no greater legacy for America than to help to bring into being a Palestinian state." That is frightening.

`Peaceful Means'         

The response "should reflect the feeling of the international community, but more important, it should be helpful for leading to a solution of this issue by peaceful means,'' Wang said.

This is my favorite tactic. They and their enabling patrons scream peace while dropping nukes.

UPDATE:China Confidential says North Korea is poised to exploit the nuclear crisis here;

 Confident of continued Chinese protection and Russian diplomatic support, the secretive Stalinist state is supposedly signaling a readiness to return to stalled six-party disarmament talks.

The North Korean signals follow hints from the United States that it could live with a nuclear North Korea for an interim period provided Pyongyang (a) does not put nuclear warheads on its missiles, and (b) abandons all arms proliferating activities.

(Note: Biological weapons are a major concern. North Korea reportedly has well developed biological and chemical weapons programs. It is difficult to understand how the proposed sanctions package could prevent a desperately poor, cornered regime from trafficking or engaging in impossible-to-trace germ weapons and warfare.)

North Korean weakness is in some sense an asset; with little to lose and nowhere to run or hide, the regime would probably unleash its military might on South Korea--where thousands of US troops are sitting ducks--and Japan before suffering defeat and collapse. Like a grenade-wielding terrorist willing to die and take an airplane of hostages down with him, Dear Leader Kim Jong-il will never surrender. His threats of war must therefore be taken with the utmost seriousness.

South Korea is in no mood for a confrontation. The country is divided and weak, with no will to resist should push come to shove.

Japan is anxious and apprehensive--and angry--but not in any position to needlessly antagonize or provoke Pyongyang.

We must rearm Japan. Right way.

Beijing is apparently resigned to putting up with its belligerent vassal--which, in spite of the risks and aggravation, provides the People's Liberation Army with a potentially useful deterrent to possible US intervention in the event of a Chinese assault on breakaway, self-ruled Taiwan. China may be trying to engineer an eventual change or gradual collapse of the Kimist regime. There could even be a coup--with at least tacit Chinese backing--one day, but not now.

UPDATE: It's official

The United States now has preliminary evidence of radioactivity from North Korea's nuclear test ground, indicating it did indeed carry out a test, a U.S. official tells CNN.

I have a running dialogue with Atlas reader David. He writes;

North Korea is to China and Russia, as Hezballah/Hamas is to Iran and Syria.  With Israel being the target through manipulative methods of Iran and Syria. The de-nuclearization and removal of American troops from South Korea is China and Russia’s target.

The diplomatic game is being played instead of black and white being pointed out.  The world and the Liberal left wanted us to go to the UN for Iraq.  We did, when we did not have to or should have, but we get no appreciation from the world or the Left for doing that.  We go to the UN over North Korea and the world, the Left and even Kofi Annan says ‘go talk to North Korea’, don’t go to the UN.  What is not being said on the world stage is China, Russia,  and North Korea want the American problem to go away i.e. troops, bases, and American nukes on the Korean Penisula. 

All of the nations at play, the UN, the Left and the media paint this as an American problem of not supplying North Korea with food and oil.  Any nation can do that, that is why it is not a food or oil issue.

When a nation wants to be an enemy of the US then they pull the UN card of diplomacy and protection.  When the US pulls the UN card of diplomacy and participation we are told ‘sorry, we don’t accept that card’.  The UN has become a tool of diplomacy against us, but that is another story.  China and Russia need to be called on the carpet and the US needs to point out their involvement.  We ignored Iran and Syria’s use of Hezballah and Hamas for years and now we finally point it out.  It is time to point out China and Russia’s membership and participation in this manipulation.

After North Korea tested their bombs China was so quick to say ‘we support strong sanctions against North Korea’.  We heard this in the MSM for three days.  Then it was time for China and Russia to put rubber to the road.  We see comments coming from them that are sanctions that are empty.  China says they do have some strong sanctions they believe should be implemented but they don’t want to say what they are, we should guess.  China and Russia’s agreed comments in the media since the middle of the week have been ‘the ultimate outcome is we should see a de-nuclearized Korean Penisula’.  They are throwing South Korea into this and no one is pointing it out.  South Korea is not on the table, ain’t up for negotiations.  America is being placed into the position of Israel to negotiate away land to settle the complaining terrorists, only to repeat it again and again.  This is a no win situation for the US.  China and Russia need to have this pointed out to the world.  America needs to change the leadership of North Korea YESTERDAY.

Comments

[clyde]

Actually, the one thing that would drive that little pinheaded creep in charge of North Korea crazy would be to kidnap his "tailor". You know, the guy that designs all his fashionable 1964 Nehru clothing. Oh, yeah. A fashion AND diplomatic statement all in one.

[Richard Davis]

LOVE the satellite photo!

I bought one similar (of the US) years ago and we take it for granted that countries would be "illuminated" at night....

I never knew North Korea was not illuminating AT ALL.... nothing, not even a tiny flicker anywhere. Just astonishing.

The contrast says it all..

Evil thrives in darkness.

[Richard Davis]

Japan's military has always been for "defensive purposes" only.

After WWII their signed (and have always honored) the treaty that says they will never have an offensive military again.

But today, 60 years later, I believe they may amend that soon.

I was stationed on a Japanese Air Force Base (Misawa) 25 years ago and I can tell you, they have an excellent military. Well trained, talented, ready, I used to think about that "defensive" posture a lot, meaning, if anyone attacked them, the Japanese could kick their ass.

I have a good feeling Japan will be a great ally in keeping Korea in line.

China, that's the problem and its getting bigger. They are building up their submarine force and that's always a bad sign, they're building more and making them quieter (they use (steal) our technology).

Anyway, the day Japan announces they are no longer just a defensive military, the North Koreans and China better look out.

[epaminondas]

The Chinese have just agreed to ut all whole egg Chow Fun.

This will bring NoKo to a complete standstill.

What a flatulent farce the UN is.

Bush should simply send Condi out in a press conference, and have her announce the US would look favorably on both Japanese and South Korean nuclear deterrents.

That should get Beijing wondering. Beijing's plansDEPEND on us never doing anything like this.

[danceswithgoats]

This one is simple:

The North Korean Free Trade Act

We in the United States believe in free trade. We are free to trade with anyone we choose to. We won't trade with anyone that trades with North Korea.

Once the President signs the bill park a satellite over N. Korea. When the first truck or train that crosses the border into N. Korea from China or Russian then don't offload the next vessel with Chinese or Russian products. If a flagged vessel is seen entering N. Korean waters then don't offload products from that country either.

Am I missing something? The Chinese and Russians must do a pittance of business with N. Korea. We just need to remind them where their bread is buttered.

[BillBowen]

John Bolton has to be pulling his hair out about now. I could not handle his job - I would have done a "smackdown" on both the ChiCom and Russian ambassadors by now.

If anything proves that China and Russia are still enemies of this country, this kibuki dance they are engaging in now should convince anyone.

Dances, you have a good idea here, but with all the China butt-kissers we have in Congress it has a snowballs chance in Hell of passing. Even if it did we'd have so many WTO complaints filed against us that it would not be funny.

I'll have to admit I'm at a loss for a solution to this mess, but I do believe that the Japanese are going to have to re-arm, if for no other reason than their own piece of mind.

The world is getting more dangerous by the bloody minute . . .

[scooternyc]

This is most unfortunate. The U.S. will look very strong if they state their missle defense support and nuclear Japan/South Korea coming on board and that we're deploying these military items immediately to both countries.

Nothing more. Nothing less. And then see what happens. If it isn't enough to get China to act appropriately then at least we'll have supported Japan and South Korea in getting started on their nuclear programs.

This really doesn't surprise me given the weakness of the United Nations to show testicular fortitude on ANYTHING! It's really disgusting on so many levels.

[tazzerman2000]

I agree totally. The U.S. should immediatly announce that we will aid both Japan and S. Korea in developing their nuclear deterent in direct response to N.Korea's threat.

Japan should amend it's constitution to allow for this development to occur.

I would even go further and have Twaiwan join in..

I would also move a good sized U.S. battle fleet into the area, increase overflights of Kim's gulag, and state in no uncertain terms that an attack on any of the three (Japan, S.Korea, Taiwan) will be considered aa an attack upon the U.S. itself.

It's time to take the gloves off here. This is the ONLY leverage we have against the ChiComs. They MUST realize that we will NOT allow a nuclear N. Korea and are willing to back that up and that we will stand with our allies and friends in the region.

I also feel that there is a very large political upside to this. Bush can VERY much imfluence the upcomming mid-term elections in a good way for the Repubs by not only talking tough but acting tough and driving this situation to a resolution beneficial to the U.S. and her allies.

[daryl]

What are Luxury Goods?

Kim Jong-il knows.

After a lifetime of voluptuous and saturnine living,(Kim has spawned children by several women, as befits any real Communist Liberator.) he suffers from Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and liver and kidney problems.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Dear Young Radiant Leader may need to prepare to personally greet the Grim Reaper.

So let us pray.