North Korea continues nuclear missile testing
Zohaib Ahmad
Issue date: 5/29/09 Section: News
According to a White House Press Briefing May 25, President Barack Obama is in talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and promised to defend South Korea.
"The two presidents agreed that the test was a reckless violation of international law that compels action in response. They agreed to work closely together to seek and support a strong United Nations Security Council resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities," the brief said.
Obama also talked with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso with the leaders agreeing to step up coordination with South Korea, China and Russia, according to another White House Press Briefing May 25.
"This may prove one of the biggest challenges that the international community has faced. In comparison, it would be much easier for Obama to reconcile with Cuba and maybe even Iran," Friedheim said.
According to CNN, Russia, France and Japan have signaled support for new sanctions against North Korea.
Friedheim said even if the UN achieves new sanctions, North Korea would never slow down its program.
North Korea had conducted an underground nuclear test on May 25. Russian officials said the bomb had an explosion of 20 kilotons, which was comparable to the bombs that were used to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
These tests occurred after North Korea walked away from long-running disarmament talks.
According to the BBC, North Korea had agreed in February 2007 to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and diplomatic concessions. However, North Korea accused its negotiating partners - the U.S., South Korea, Japan, China and Russia - of failing to meet agreed obligations, forcing the negotiations to stall.
"This challenge of stopping or slowing [North Korea's nuclear development] will likely... prove [to be] the single greatest problem for Obama's policy of diplomacy and the UN Security Council," Friedheim said.
"The two presidents agreed that the test was a reckless violation of international law that compels action in response. They agreed to work closely together to seek and support a strong United Nations Security Council resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities," the brief said.
Obama also talked with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso with the leaders agreeing to step up coordination with South Korea, China and Russia, according to another White House Press Briefing May 25.
"This may prove one of the biggest challenges that the international community has faced. In comparison, it would be much easier for Obama to reconcile with Cuba and maybe even Iran," Friedheim said.
According to CNN, Russia, France and Japan have signaled support for new sanctions against North Korea.
Friedheim said even if the UN achieves new sanctions, North Korea would never slow down its program.
North Korea had conducted an underground nuclear test on May 25. Russian officials said the bomb had an explosion of 20 kilotons, which was comparable to the bombs that were used to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
These tests occurred after North Korea walked away from long-running disarmament talks.
According to the BBC, North Korea had agreed in February 2007 to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and diplomatic concessions. However, North Korea accused its negotiating partners - the U.S., South Korea, Japan, China and Russia - of failing to meet agreed obligations, forcing the negotiations to stall.
"This challenge of stopping or slowing [North Korea's nuclear development] will likely... prove [to be] the single greatest problem for Obama's policy of diplomacy and the UN Security Council," Friedheim said.
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