Like a dog returning to its vomit, Russia returns to her old ways.
And Kim-boy desperately needs a smack-down.
Posted on 04/10/2003 12:52:17 AM PDT by struwwelpeter
The UN Security Council rejected the US proposal to officially condemn the People's Democratic Republic of Korea for abandoning the nuclear nondissemination agreement.
Even if the UN Security Council accepts any resolution with respect to the nuclear program of North Korea, Pyongyang can ignore it, said Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov. "I do not rule out, that if the UN Security Council decides on this issue, they will be ignored by Pyongyang with regard to other precedents," he said on Thursday to journalists in Seoul, according to Interfaks.
"I think that only via political-diplomatic means, with the participation of all interested parties, is it possible to return this situation to the status quo," stated Ivanov.
"The solution to the North Korean problem is this: Pyongyang returns to all international conditions of nondissemination and places its facilities under IAEA control, and afterwards receives a guarantee of their security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as nonaggression," Ivanov said.
"Of course, this is possible only if Pyongyang receives complete and absolute guarantees for its security," he continued. "If the question arises about if Russia is ready to give such guarantees of safety, then Russia is ready," said the Russian minister of defense.
Answering questions, Ivanov said: "If we speak frankly about the connection between the crisis in Iraq and the situation in North Korea, then yes, there is an interconnection, in my opinion, and it's unambiguous. This interconnection was examined (by Pyongyang) a year ago, and now Pyongyang undertakes efforts to strengthen its defense capability," said the minister.
"In view of the developments in Iraq," he continued, "the leadership of Pyongyang has concluded that a guarantee of its territorial integrity and independence is possible only by possessing the necessary means."
"Further courses of events, including the war in Iraq, confirmed this forecast. I am presenting not the Russian logic, but the logic of Pyongyang," said the minister.
Developing his theme of the crisis in Iraq, he stated that "the prestige and authority of the UN have sustained perceptible damage. Events now show that many states have started to act at their own discretion, without a glance at international law. There is nothing good in this course of events," stated Ivanov.
North Korea could declare its possession of nuclear weapons
Pyongyang in response to a possible UN resolution regarding their nuclear program could declare its possession of nuclear weapons. This opinion was expressed to Interfaks on Thursday by a highly placed military-diplomatic source, commenting on last Wednesday's examination of the North Korean nuclear problem by the UN Security Council.
"It is possible that a short time after the UN Security Council makes its predictable resolution with respect to North Korean nuclear programs, Pyongyang will make a most unpredictable and very serious declaration," said the source.
"In particular," he continued, "they could declare the presence in their country of nuclear weapons and renew testing intermediate range rockets over the territory of Japan."
"Certainly, this does not mean that in the near future a nuclear war will begin," said military-diplomatic source.
He recalled that "Russia always spoke against bringing the North Korean problem to the UN Security Council. We do not shield Kim Jong Il, but his behavior for us is absolutely understandable," said source.
Sergey Ivanov: The war in Iraq will whip up an arms race in North Korea and entire world. Russia will win: orders for weapons will grow
The war in Iraq will whip up the arms race not only in North Korea, but also in the entire world. This was stated by Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov, who arrived the day before in Seoul on an official visit.
"That more and more countries will attempt to obtain weapons of mass destruction and other simple destructive forms of armaments, is obvious," stated the Russian head of defense.
He noted that as a result of war in Iraq "(Russia) paradoxically came out with an advantage. In the last month the Russian ministry of defense received a growing number of inquiries about deliveries of modern types of armaments from very many countries in the world," stated Ivanov.
UN Security Council rejected a US proposal to officially condemn North Korea for abandoning the nuclear nondissemination treaty
Last Wednesday in New York the UN Security Council held consultations regarding the North Korean nuclear program. In the course of the session a proposal by the US to officially condemn North Korea for abandoning the nuclear nondissemination treaty was struck down. In many respects this was because of the positions of Russia and China, who were among those speaking the strongest against Washington's initiative.
At the same time US UN Ambassador John Negroponte called on the council to express to Pyongyang its concern, after calling this version "an acceptable outcome." He also expressed hope that North Korea "will not begin to reject diplomatic efforts for regulating the crisis of its nuclear program" and called on Pyongyang to refrain from any steps which could cause further escalation of the crisis.
The Bush administration relates to North Korea as (part of) the "Axis of evil" and insists on the problem being solved in multilateral negotiations.
The US confirms that its position for a peaceful solution of the North Korean nuclear problem is unchanged. This was reported in Seoul by the US assistant secretary of state, James Kelly, in an interview with South Korean journalists.
He emphasized that the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula differs from the Iraqi problem and must be solved by a diplomatic and peaceful method.
North Korea, in turn, stated that any radical action of the Security Council can destroy attempts at a peaceful settlement, and that UN sanctions would be regarded as a declaration of war.
Like a dog returning to its vomit, Russia returns to her old ways.
And Kim-boy desperately needs a smack-down.
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9 April 2003 g., 07:38
North Korea considers US aggression against Iraq as confirmation of its fears that soon the sights of the US will set on the PDRK.
UN adviser to the secretary general Maurice Strong reported that he learned this from the North Korean leadership during consultations in Pyongyang on March 20th. Strong noted that in North Korea "no one wants war, but they are prepared for it."
On Wednesday the UN Security Council intends to discuss the situation relating to North Korea's abandonment of the nuclear nondissemination treaty, reports Interfaks.
In this case North Korea has declared that any sanctions in will be a declaration of war.
The UN Security Council will conduct closed consultations on the nuclear problems North Korea
On 12 February the leadership council of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided to introduce the nuclear problems of North Korea for the examination by the Security Council. However, the SC did not consider it necessary to begin debates on these problems and a week later passed them off for study by experts.
All this time the US tried to attain a statement from the council, that Pyongyang's decision to abandon the nuclear nondissemination agreement would be condemned and call on the DPRK to observe its international obligations.
However, diplomatic sources reported, China decisively came forward against this. Peking supports the position of the DPRK, that the solution to the crisis must be via direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington, and not within the framework OF UN.
In Pyongyang they consider an examination of the North Korean nuclear problem in the UN a "prelude to the war."
Coming before journalists on the eve of consultations, special adviser to the secretary general on North Korea Maurice Strong expressed his opinion that the best outcome would be the absence any solution.
From the main article, it appears Mr. Strong got his weak solution. And it seems China is the main man behind Kim. Like Russia got stuck holding France's and Germany's bags, Russia will probably get stifted over this one as well.
I suppose they could care less, as long as nervous despots keep buying Russian.
Not quite the same as offering to save one's butt, and in light of how well Saddam was able to hide his nuclear facilities, not a very wise statement.
But that's why it was phrased so obscurely, by a non-politician, and to journalists to boot. A very tentative testing the waters.
After Condalezza bitch-slaps the other Ivanov, this will be retracted or rephrased.
Doesn't look like either Russia or China is willing or able to deal with their problem child.
True, Russia is not emerging as a very impressive international player.
However, interestingly enough, it emerges from the records that Russia sold way more arms to Iraq than did any other state, including France and Germany. I wonder if selling arms to Kim is also part of the economy of the "New Russia?"
The precedent established by Saddam ignoring 18 UN resolutions finally enforced by the US ?
BUMP
Realistically, I'd much rather North Korea bought Russian weapons and received Russian advisers, than British ones. Or even Chinese. We've been studying and developing solutions for Russian weapons and tactics for a half-century - we've got it down to a science.
We weren't exactly fighting Russia's most modern exports in Iraq, but it can't help that almost everyone holding a Kalashnikov or riding in an Osnovnoy Tank got pasted.
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