BDA-style financial squeeze, PSI maritime interdiction pondered
By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the United States are having consultations about what kinds of sanctions they will jointly take against North Korea, if the Stalinist state ignores repeated warnings and presses ahead with its third nuclear test, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
The sanctions may most likely include a global freeze on Pyongyang's international transactions as seen in a move against Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) in 2005 and expanding the proliferation security initiative (PSI), a U.S.-led maritime interdiction of ships that are suspected of transporting banned materials.
"The consultations are under way so I can't speak about them," a ministry spokesman said in reply to what kinds of sanctions the two allies were considering.
Seoul and Washington's consultations are aimed at applying the pressure, if the United Nations Security Council balks at action against the North.
The latest UN Resolution against Pyongyang did gain the backing of China, its patron state, but has sanctions on a recommendation basis, a patched-up compromise between Beijing and Washington.
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan hinted at the sanctions when he said, "I can infer from the UN resolution that strengthened financial sanctions and the inspection of vessels heading to the North suspected of carrying suspicious freight will be undertaken."
Minister Kim talked over the phone with new U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about the North Korean issue.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council is set to take firm and strong actions against North Korea's possible imminent nuclear test, said South Korean Amb. Kim Sook, who leads the nation's presidency of the global organization.
"They (15 council members) are very firm and resolute and I would expect very firm and strong measures to be taken in terms of format as well as in substance once they go ahead with such provocation," he said.
South Korea assumes the rotating presidency of the 15-member council for February.
"We cannot sit idly by and do nothing vis-a-vis some devastating provocative action by North Korea," Kim said.
His remarks come as the reclusive country is ramping up its threats to protest the U.N. Security Council's latest sanctions on the North in January for its long-range rocket launch in December, a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. Pyongyang conducted its first two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 after being slapped with U.N. sanctions for rocket launches.
"There was agreement that ... if the DPRK continues its provocative behavior and takes further steps, that there must be further consequences," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
In addition, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim called on "the North to avoid any provocative behavior, become a responsible neighbor, and return to an authentic and credible diplomatic process towards our shared goal of denuclearization
By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the United States are having consultations about what kinds of sanctions they will jointly take against North Korea, if the Stalinist state ignores repeated warnings and presses ahead with its third nuclear test, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
The sanctions may most likely include a global freeze on Pyongyang's international transactions as seen in a move against Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) in 2005 and expanding the proliferation security initiative (PSI), a U.S.-led maritime interdiction of ships that are suspected of transporting banned materials.
"The consultations are under way so I can't speak about them," a ministry spokesman said in reply to what kinds of sanctions the two allies were considering.
Seoul and Washington's consultations are aimed at applying the pressure, if the United Nations Security Council balks at action against the North.
The latest UN Resolution against Pyongyang did gain the backing of China, its patron state, but has sanctions on a recommendation basis, a patched-up compromise between Beijing and Washington.
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan hinted at the sanctions when he said, "I can infer from the UN resolution that strengthened financial sanctions and the inspection of vessels heading to the North suspected of carrying suspicious freight will be undertaken."
Minister Kim talked over the phone with new U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about the North Korean issue.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council is set to take firm and strong actions against North Korea's possible imminent nuclear test, said South Korean Amb. Kim Sook, who leads the nation's presidency of the global organization.
"They (15 council members) are very firm and resolute and I would expect very firm and strong measures to be taken in terms of format as well as in substance once they go ahead with such provocation," he said.
South Korea assumes the rotating presidency of the 15-member council for February.
"We cannot sit idly by and do nothing vis-a-vis some devastating provocative action by North Korea," Kim said.
His remarks come as the reclusive country is ramping up its threats to protest the U.N. Security Council's latest sanctions on the North in January for its long-range rocket launch in December, a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. Pyongyang conducted its first two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 after being slapped with U.N. sanctions for rocket launches.
"There was agreement that ... if the DPRK continues its provocative behavior and takes further steps, that there must be further consequences," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
In addition, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim called on "the North to avoid any provocative behavior, become a responsible neighbor, and return to an authentic and credible diplomatic process towards our shared goal of denuclearization
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