Part One of Two Parts:
A few weeks ago, USA Today published an article about six things that the U.S. could do to put pressure on North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions. There are some interesting suggestions but some of the ideas do not hold up very well when scrutinized. Today I am going to go through their list and make a few comments.
Enforce Current Sanctions
In November, the U.N. Security Council voted the most severe sanctions yet for North Korea. The new sanctions limit the North Korean’s ability to sell conventional weapons, coal and iron ore, especially if the profits could benefit the N.K. nuclear weapons program. Not all of these sanctions have been implemented by China and S.E. Asian countries. In some cases, it may be complex financial transactions that are difficult to disentangle. Countries whose products find their way to N.K. are not necessarily aware of their ultimate destinations. However, in other cases, the countries trading with N.K. are benefiting from low prices for N.K. products and services and may not be willing to give them up. China is in an especially difficult position. If the N.K. economy collapses under the weight of the sanctions, the resulting economic and social chaos would send waves of refugees across their border with N.K. which they would be unable to handle without severe damage to their own infrastructure and society.
Stop Chinese missile carriers.
The U.S. could publicly criticize Chinese companies that are aiding the N.K. missile program. Two Chinese trucking companies have made heavy vehicles for the N.K government to transport, erect and launch its missiles. An analyst suggests that all we have to do is demand that the Chinese government force the trucking companies to repossess all of the vehicles that they supplied to N.K. That could be easier said than done. The companies might reply that those vehicles are now property of N.K. and they have no claim on them. In addition, the N.K. military might directly prevent such a repossession. It is unlikely that Beijing is unaware of trade between the two trucking companies and N.K. If there is clandestine support for this trade by the Chinese government, it will be very difficult to stop.
Expose Beijing’s support.
U.S. intelligence sources claim that Chinese companies are helping N.K. develop the capacity to produce lithium-6, an isotope that is critical in the development of thermo-nuclear weapons. These hydrogen bombs and boosted atomic bombs are much more powerful than atomic bombs. N.K. has purchased materials including mercury and lithium hydroxide from Chinese suppliers. These materials are what are referred to as “dual use” meaning that they can be used for civilian purposes or to create lithium-6 for their weapons program. Analysts say that high level Chinese government officials must be involved in the export of those materials to N.K. They suggest that those officials be publicly identified to pressure the Chinese government. This might work if the Chinese government was willing to cooperate. Otherwise, it could be difficult for the U.S. to identify the officials. In addition, if there is approval of the Chinese government at high levels for the sale of those materials, the U.S. would have little ability to change the practice and might offend China in the attempt. A big question is how far the U.S. is willing to push China and what the consequences might be for the U.S. – China relationship.
(Please read Part Two)
Emblem of North Korea:
