U.S. Urges Sanctions on North Korea

By Michael Abramowitz and Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The White House pushed yesterday for aggressive new sanctions on North Korea, including measures to limit trade in military and luxury items, as Pyongyang's claim that it conducted an underground nuclear test defied the administration's efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Japan, Russia, South Korea -- and, significantly, China, North Korea's closest ally -- joined the United States in condemning the reported test, giving the Bush administration hope that it might unify the international community against Pyongyang. But U.S. officials acknowledged uncertainty about whether that would translate into strict U.N. sanctions, given China's traditional reluctance to lean heavily on its ally.

There were questions yesterday about the strength and success of the reported North Korean explosion, but there was little doubt among White House officials, lawmakers and outside experts that the action added a volatile new ingredient to an already dangerous world environment.

President Bush, acknowledging he could not confirm that a nuclear test occurred early yesterday in North Korea, said that the claim was nonetheless a "provocative act" and that he is "committed to diplomacy." Noting that North Korea has transferred missile technology to Iran and Syria, Bush also seemed to draw a sharp line that he warned Pyongyang not to cross.

"The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the consequences of such action," Bush told reporters at the White House.

If the test is confirmed, North Korea will be the eighth member of the club of declared nuclear powers -- and one led by a reclusive Stalinist dictator known for cruelty and unpredictability.

Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa), chairman of the House International Relations subcommittee on Asia, said the action could prod Japan to drop its non-nuclear position, encourage Iran to harden its stance in negotiations over its own reported nuclear program and make it difficult to stop North Korea from marketing weapons to "undesirable parties."

The new claim also promised to renew scrutiny of the Bush administration's handling of North Korea and more generally its efforts to confront rogue states, just as crucial midterm elections are approaching. North Korea has ignored repeated warnings from the Bush administration on nuclear and missile testing.

Democrats quickly seized on the new North Korean claim as evidence that Bush has bungled his foreign policy, and even some conservatives voiced concern that the initial White House response yesterday was not stern enough.

"Unfortunately, on the Bush Administration's watch, North Korea's nuclear arsenal has grown to as many as a dozen bombs," Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said in a statement. "Distracted by Iraq and paralyzed by internal divisions, the Bush Administration has for several years been in a state of denial about the growing challenge of North Korea, and has too often tried to downplay the issue or change the subject."

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the majority whip, said of the Democrats: "It doesn't make any difference what [Bush] does, they just come out and trash him." McConnell said in an interview that he hopes that China might be encouraged to sign on to a plan for tough sanctions on North Korea, noting a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement that said Pyongyang "defied the universal opposition of international society and flagrantly conducted the nuclear test."

"For China, that's pretty tough language," McConnell said, echoing a statement voiced privately by Bush administration officials.

At the United Nations yesterday, the Bush administration proposed an arms embargo and financial and trade sanctions on North Korea, as well as international inspections of all trade going in and out of the country to enforce them. The measures were contained in a U.S. draft resolution presented to the 15-nation council yesterday.

John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told diplomats at a closed-door emergency session that the U.S. initiative is designed to limit North Korea's ability to import or export nuclear and ballistic missile technology and hinder its capacity to raise illicit money, citing the alleged manufacture of counterfeit U.S. dollars, senior council diplomats said.

The draft resolution would also bar the import of all luxury goods and demand that North Korea cease its nuclear activities and restart multiparty talks aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis. The resolution would give North Korea 30 days to comply with council demands or face "such further action as may be needed."

Britain and France voiced support for sanctions on North Korea but stopped short of endorsing the draft resolution.

Japan's U.N. ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, said his government "sees eye to eye" with the Americans on many of the proposals. The Japanese, in fact, offered amendments that in some cases go further; Japan called for a ban on all North Korean exports, for instance, and a ban on North Korean ships or aircraft calling on foreign countries.

China, meanwhile, cautioned that the Security Council should pursue only diplomatic means to persuade North Korea to stop its nuclear activities.

China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, said that Beijing opposes the North Korean test and that it is ready to discuss "how the Security Council could react firmly, constructively and prudently with regard to this challenge." But he declined to say whether Beijing would support a sanctions resolution. "The door to solve this issue from a diplomatic point of view is still open," he said.

Privately, U.S. officials said they are hopeful after private conversations with the Chinese that Beijing is sufficiently angry with North Korea to sign on to the U.S. plan.

"This was really a direct challenge to the Chinese, and indications are that they are not taking this lightly," said one senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive deliberations. "We are hopeful that they will exert whatever influence they have left with the North Koreans."

Leach and Rep. Tom Lantos (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, urged the administration to open direct talks with the North Koreans, which the White House has resisted except in the context of broader negotiations with China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.

"My impression is that the administration is profoundly divided in their approach to North Korea," Lantos said. "I am convinced that there are very senior people in the administration who agree with me that dialogue is needed."

But former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who has been critical of the administration's efforts on North Korea, drew a different lesson.

"We keep trying to find an official diplomatic technique for dealing with a regime that violates every norm of human decency," he said, adding that the administration needs to step up efforts to undermine the government by trying to get food and supplies to North Koreans via unofficial channels.

Lynch reported from the United Nations.