Will North Korea Test Next Missile Over Japan?

Word seems to have it that we may see another missile going up over Japan soon if the North can get it together. Intelligence agencies think they have another one to set off. This is a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions passed previously. But we know that has not stopped the North Koreans from doing whatever they want to do. Past sanctions by the UN and the world did nothing to halt them from firing off multiple sets of missiles or exploding two nuclear devices, and even exporting to Syria some sort of weaponry. The Israelis took it out in an ultra secret bombing raid that we still know nothing about. What was it?

Finally, after weeks of negotiations we hear that a breakthrough has occurred among the seven governments involved in this fiasco. The UN finally got an agreement to fix sanctions on North Korea that have some teeth in them. The sanctions agreed to by the permanent members plus South Korea and Japan will be presented to the full member Security Council today for discussion and a vote hopefully soon.

Harvey Morris at the UN reported for the FINANCIAL TIMES (June 11) that the US envoy Rice said there would be some bite in these sanctions. Funny, we were the ones bitten last time. But that is ok as Bush tried to talk to these people. We can see where it got us. Teddy told us to talk and carry a big stick.

Anyway, the sanctions will be harder hitting in the financial area and energy areas. The world is expected to stop trading and freeze monies that belong to the North. We have to wait and see how China will react even though they agreed, along with Russia, to this pact. They provide 90% or so of the oil North Korea gets. Both Russia and China fear chaos on the Korean peninsula if the government there falls. Kim’s dynasty may be short lived. However, it may be the better out than an invasion by anarchy from the North. This is what China and we all need to be concerned about.

The plan is to inspect any suspicious cargo at airports or on the high seas. The other countries will need to agree. The UN will set up a committee to run this. More financial restraints will be applied too. And UN members will be required to withhold oil and fuel and supplies from North Korean vessels thought to be carrying weapons/technology/nuclear equipment.