China and Russia Back US on North Korea. Is North Korea In More Trouble than Iraq was?

The UN Security Council unanimously passed UN Resolution 1874 to put sanctions on North Korea. This action will still not stop small arms shipments into North Korea but all weapon shipments out of the North will stop. Not only is nuclear material or missiles banned, but all shipments of weapons by North Korea. This resolution is tougher than the 2006 one but now is backed by both Russia and China. The question remains though if they will privately back the deal in reality. The last time they opposed the sanctions and the sanctions failed. Russia said the current act is balanced and appropriate. China said they are firmly opposed to the actions of the North. But is the plan workable?

A significant problem remains in that force cannot be used to stop the shipments. Mutual cooperation is cited as he preferred method of operation. Both flag countries must work together in a stop and search. No force can be used. Russia and China threatened a veto of the sanctions if force was allowed. Both the US, and Japan wanted to inspect even if force was needed. If North Korea refuses inspection at sea it can then choose to have its ship go to a port of its choice for inspection by local authorities. Nothing can be done if they refuse and keep on sailing. No one will support the use of force. The incident will be reported to the Security Council. What happens then is any one’s guess. The Japanese said the proof of this policy will be seeing it activated and working. Knowing North Korea’s past actions, it is unlikely to work. North Korea already threatened war with the US and the South if anything was attempted to stop their ships on the seas. They may also react with another missile launch or another nuclear warhead test.

The sanctions will hurt the North as it is thought they collect large amounts of money from selling arms each year. This money is absolutely needed to run their military programs, build missiles and nuclear arms. Arms sales to the world are the financial lynchpin of their economy. It will hurt. This may be a real means to bring them back to the table to talk. The US says the door for talks is open. If they stop their belligerent ways, the sanctions will end.