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
북한의 3차 핵실험이 임박한 것으로 관측되는 가운데 핵실험 이후를 대비한 한미 양국의 대북 추가조치 논의가 본격화되고 있다고 말했다.
특히 지난달 채택한 대북 결의안 2087호를 토대로 새로운 제재를 포함하는 방안이 검토되고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.
2087호에 권고조치로 포함된 금융ㆍ해운 제재를 강제화하는 동시에 추가적인 조치도 도입하는 방안이 협의되고 있는 것이다.
외교부 관계자는 “미국과의 협의가 진행 중이다. 하지만 지금은 밝히 수는 없는 단계”라고 말했다.
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