Top > World > 2006 > October > 2006-10-17

N Korea Sanctions Regime Already Weakening

Both the People`s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea - better known as South Korea - have announced that despite the passage of a strict U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing sanctions against their neighbor North Korea for the latter`s recent test of a nuclear weapon, they will be maintaining close economic ties with the reclusive regime. China has said that it will not work to inspect goods and shipments crossing its border with the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (as North Korea calls itself), and Seoul, fearing an outbreak of violence, will not partake in the interdictions of North Korean-flagged ships at sea.

Meanwhile, both the Commonwealth of Australia and State of Japan have seen calls in domestic media and from local politicians for tough enforcement of U.N. sanctions, even as it has grown increasingly apparent that, in addition to China and South Korea, Russia too is wavering in its support for carrying out provisions requested or required in the recent Security Council resolution. President George W. Bush of the U.S. over the weekend praised the action of the Security Council, but his apparent euphoria - shared by the American U.N. ambassador John R. Bolton and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice - seems a bit premature as more and more questions continue to arise over the viability of sanctions against North Korea.

Analysts are now saying that it is unlikely these new sanctions in place against North Korea will be any more effective than those passed earlier this year, limited sanctions carried out in response to North Korea`s July 4 testing of several short-range missiles and one long-range ballistic missile. Washington, however, is apparently calling on China and Russia to fall in line with the sanctions regime that could not have been passed without their approval. Meanwhile, North Korea has denounced the Security Council as "gangster-like" and stated that U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions could be seen by Pyongyang as a declaration of war.