[imText1]The South Korean government showed its opposition to the N.K. resolution, regarding the North Korean missile test, submitted by Japan to the U.N. Security Council.
While the U.S. and Japan are attempting to persuade China and Russia to adopt the N.K. resolution, the South Korean government has vehemently opposed the resolution, because Charter VII, on which the N.K. resolution was based, is likely to lead to military actions.
On the 10th, the second vice-minister of Foriegn Affairs and Trade, Lee Kyu Hyeong, articulated his opposition to the N.K. resolution to Japanese ambassador to Korea, Oshima Shotaro. In addition, during a radio interview regarding the nature of the N. Korean missile test, Song Min Soon, Security Policy Chief at the Blue House expressed his stance, “The missile test was somewhat provocative, yet it was politically-based. The missile test is not a matter in response to which the U.N. Security Council should impose sanctions”.
A governmental officer said that, “The resolution is based on Charter VII, which includes the possibility of military actions. Charter VII was applied to Iraq after it attacked other countries, and Libya after it committed acts of international terrorism”.
In regard to this, former ambassador Park Geun, now representative of the U.S.-Korea Cooperation Association, pointed out that, “As Charter VII is applied in situations of threats to peace and in response to international conflicts, absolutely the N. Korean missile test qualifies as such”, adding that, “Our government called into question the possibility of Charter VII being applied to the N. Korean missile conflict, however, it was ultimately decided against”.
He emphasized that, “We must oppose the U.N. resolution as it encompasses a threat of war, and such a situation will not benefit the Korean people”, and “yet in order to solve the missile and nuke problem, the world should be united and impose sanctions on North Korea”.
No country survived application of U.N. resolution
Professor Lee Shin Hwa of Korea University said that, “The problem is not in interpretation of the text, but is simply political”.
However, professor Lee stated that, “North Korea’s claim that only NK-US bilateral talks will lead to effective suspension of missile testing is nonsense”, and “a NK resolution is necessary to at least force North Korea to comply with the missile suspension declaration”.
Professor Lee pointed out that, “Our government seems to oppose the NK resolution because of North and South ethnic ties”, and “the government should reexamine its committment to defending the North”.
Former ambassador Park predicted that, if the NK resolution were to be adopted, North Korea would face a formidable crisis.
“The first stage of resolution would of course be diplomacy. However, if North Korea does not give up its missile development, then it would soon involve the whole world. China and Russia would then be unable to ignore U.N. demands, and North Korea would soon be isolated”.
However, professor Lee predicted that, “North Korea is an abnormal nation that we are unable to understand from a commonsense standpoint. Even if the resolution were passed, it would not be much of a blow to North Korea. China and Russia, keeping the U.S. in line, and South Korea focusing on keeping the South and North relationship intact, would help relieve the shock”.
Charter VII stipulates that “any threat to peace, breach of peace, or act of aggression” as demanding an international response. Article 41 elucidates what measures, not including the use of armed force, are to be employed. These may include; complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.
In situations in which article 41 proves insufficient, “Action by air, sea, or land forces may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security”.
Until the present, only 6 countries have been sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council on the basis of Charter VII, including South Africa, Kosovo, Libya, Haiti and Iraq, all of which were unable to survive after the sanctions.
