Nth Korea poses risks for NZ - ambassador
The United States ambassador says a nuclear-armed North Korea has the potential to have a big impact on New Zealand, but Kiwis don’t seem to realise it.
US President Donald Trump’s man in NZ, Scott Brown, spoke to Stuff about NZ’S role in dealing with rising tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapon programme.
Brown said he didn’t think Kiwis understood the implications of the stand-off between Trump and Kim Jong Un. ’’They understand: gosh we’re so far away and it really doesn’t affect us; well, it does if he [Kim Jong Un] decides to drop a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean. The fallout could come here. It could affect the fishing and all the sealife. It would dramatically affect climate and economy and the ability to travel freely in that region without being contaminated so yeah, it does affect New Zealand.’’
Brown said the NZ Government’s ‘‘rock solid’’ support of the US was to be congratulated. The country had a lot of credibility as a Five Eyes member and a respected nation in the Pacific region. Our nuclear-free status added to that, he said.
‘‘They [the NZ government] are playing an active role in trying to inform people in their region ... but more importantly, the fact they are not afraid to speak up - being a smaller country and kind of isolated - but always being in the forefront of criticisms has emboldened other smaller countries and other larger countries to get involved.
‘‘I think indirectly, along with other efforts, it’s helping the UN Security Council votes - three in a row - every little bit helps and we’re excited, grateful to get the assistance as the United States but, more importantly I think, the world is grateful too, because this is a world effort ... it’s affecting everybody.’’
At the same time, he didn’t think Kiwis realised the respect they commanded.
‘‘When I’m speaking to average Kiwis ... what I try to convey is ... the role you play in the world. I’m not sure if people really get it yet.
‘‘What I try to tell New Zealanders is: listen, you guys play a special role in the world because you are a Five Eyes partner, you are a trading leader, you do have certain positions on nuclear and other issues and you do so much philanthropically in the region ... when you guys speak, when the Kiwi speaks, it actually has a greater amount of respect in the world.
‘‘The average Kiwi, I’m not sure if they understand that. They should really be proud of that fact.’’
North Korea
Brown said he believed the rogue state still had a chance to be part of the global community - it if wanted to be.
Kim Jong Un would be ‘‘welcomed’’ but instead was focused on being a ‘‘bully’’.
‘‘He can become an economic engine like South Korea and like Vietnam and Singapore, they have the tools, the resources, the people. You know obviously they have the determination,’’ Brown said. ’’They could raise the standards of living, they could have a conventional army to protect their interests, but he wants to do it in a different way.
‘‘He wants to be belligerent and bully people in the region and the world and he wants to basically export terrorism around the world and it’s not going to be accepted by good people of the world.’’
Brown described Kim Jong Un’s actions as ‘‘sabre-rattling’’. ’’That’s the issue, you have somebody who is out there stirring the pot, has some new toys, some new weapons and wants to got out and basically sabre-rattle and I think it’s wrong.’’
The US goal for North Korea was simple, he said. ‘‘The goal is to make sure that North Korea does not become a nuclear power and starts exporting nuclear materials and nuclear weapons and terrorism around the region and the world. That’s crystal clear,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s going to take the entire world, every country, every person, every ... I don’t care, Democrat, Republican, socialist, communist dictators - any people who care about their families and their kids, who want to make sure that region and our world doesn’t become destabilised – needs to work together to basically make sure this guy ... becomes a member of the community and not .. the person that upsets everything in the world order.’’