SK sanctions violate UNSC resolution
Two days after the UN Security Council (UNSC) imposed new sanctions on North Korea, the South Korean government on Friday added its own punitive measures. Japan also imposed unilateral sanctions and the US is set to do the same.
North Korea refused to bend. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to “completely break” South Korea’s will of counteraction and “make a clean sweep” of the country when he guided the exercises of his front-line units, the Pyongyangbased Korean Central News Agency reported.
South Korea has taken the lead in violating the UNSC resolution. Its move to add unilateral punitive measures is a sign of contempt for and intrusion into the scope of the resolution. The resolution has clearly stated that it does not aim to bring adverse consequences to the North Korean people and their humanitarian needs, nor is it intended to have a negative impact on the country’s normal economic and trade activities. South Korea’s punitive measures, including banning any ships that have traveled to North Korea within the past one year from entering South Korean ports, are aimed at indiscriminately smothering the North Korean economy, which is a serious deviation from the spirit of the UNSC resolution.
The US, Japan and South Korea believe that they represent international justice, which is both selfish and morally narcissistic.
The three countries have failed to understand Pyongyang’s motivation of developing nuclear weapons. They are used to seeing Pyongyang as “lunatic” and believe they can change its behavior with censure and threats. To Pyongyang, the three countries are also acting like “madmen.” They advocate for peace but the US is opposed to even sign on a peace agreement.
For the Chinese public, the situation is difficult to comprehend. Pyongyang is facing heightened security threats and is suffering economically due to its nuclear program. Seoul will undoubtedly be the first to take the bullet if a desperate Pyongyang decides to hit back.
Pyongyang’s threat to “make a clean sweep” of Seoul is not that different from saying it wishes to eliminate itself. Seoul’s punitive measures, on the other hand, are mostly symbolic as there exists little economic connection between them.
The Global Times editorials have repeatedly said that alleviating the tensions on the Korean Peninsula is more important than imposing sanctions. As the side with overwhelming power, the US and South Korea should take a more active role. They need to rethink whether sanctions and threats alone can really solve the issue.
Our view is that Pyongyang is destined to suffer the most from the nuclear crisis and therefore it will benefit the most if the crisis is put to an end.