It appears the sanctions the world has placed on North Korea have fallen short.  It’s now suspected the country is preparing to launch another “test” missile that has Hawaii in its crosshairs.  It’s believed if it is fired, it will be done in the first week of July.  With Independence Day such an important part of the American way, many military officials believe it will be North Korea’s ideal opportunity.  These same military officials still believe the missile hasn’t been perfected and will fall a solid five hundred miles short of the islands; however, it’s difficult to say this with any sense of certainty.  And now it gets worse:

There’s a North Korean ship, the Kang Nam that the U.S. is tracking via satellite that left its port on Wednesday.  It’s supposed to be carrying weapons material, which of course is in direct violation of these latest global sanctions.  The military is calling the ship a “repeat offender” since it’s been used in the past to transport nuclear and other damaging materials that can be used should North Korea decide to take on the world.  Other countries are tracking this vessel as well.

What’s so disturbing is the promise made by North Korean leaders that any attempts to thwart its vessels’ missions will be met with a “1000 fold” retaliation effort.  You have to ask yourself, “Do we really know for sure what North Korea is up to and what it has at the ready to back up these threats?”  It could be all talk, then again….

Bottom line is that it took less than one week for North Korea to thumb its nose at these latest sanctions.  As many believed, these threats are falling as short as its current nuclear missile reach.  This small country simply isn’t intimidated.  Hopefully, there won’t be so much time wasted on sanctions that serve no purpose and a more definitive solution can be found that will eliminate the threat this country continues to be.  Although this might leave only one solution, hopefully, it won’t come to a full-scale war, despite North Korea’s apparent insistence that it’s acceptable as far as it’s concerned.

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So much for the promised sanctions within “a day or two” by the U.N. in response to North Korea’s latest nuclear testing missions.  It’s now been over two weeks and a draft proposal has just now been announced.  In the meantime, North Korea has now had all this time to do whatever it is that’s making it so confident in their declaration of war should the sanctions be applied. 

For some reason, the White House is calling this threat “rhetoric “.  I’m not so sure.  It sounds as though the communist country means business, especially since any response to the imminent sanctions has been non-plussed.  The threats haven’t worked and now, it’s culminated to today’s promise by North Korea of a “merciless offensive” should these sanctions be passed. 

So what does the Security Council promise these sanctions will do?  They’ll bite.  Oh, wait…they’ll bite in a “meaningful way”.  The truth is, sanctions imposed in the past have done nothing to slow the development of these nuclear weapons.  North Korea simply isn’t intimidated.  The new sanctions promise to freeze North Korea’s business assets, expand the current arms embargo and North Korea will no longer be allowed any

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financial dealings with any other country on the planet.  These sanctions sound severe enough, but still, the most troubling aspect is the fact leaders in Pyongyang have yet to flinch.  In fact, the country as a whole seems no more concerned than Google is over its new competition, Bing.

The probability of these nuclear testing operations coming to a halt seems to be non-existent.  The country has adamantly refused to cease the tests.  Still, the five permanent nations believe this new resolution will pass on Thursday and are in hopes the sanctions will be enough to thwart North Korea’s plans for further testing. 

The draft includes language that suggests it’s no stronger than the one passed in 2006.  Countries will be prohibited from providing supplies or fuel to the country’s vessels only if reasonable doubts exist over what the vessel is carrying, such as weapons.  Force will not be authorized to ensure these vessels agree to on-board inspections. 

Only time will tell if the latest threats of war will come full circle.  Somehow, this just has a feeling of there being no need for too much time to pass.

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This countdown might or might not be effective in getting a five year old to brush his teeth or do his homework; but one thing’s for sure, North Korea is most likely not threatened by the UN’s promise to consider stronger sanctions as a way to thwart this country’s insistence on firing nukes.  North Korea seems to have drawn its line in the sand, much like the five year old who plants himself in the middle of the candy

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aisle and refuses to move until Mommy buys that bag of Reese’s miniatures.  Unfortunately, North Korea knows it hasn’t pushed the envelope far enough yet and can still do as it pleases with few worries about empty threats.

With its latest nuclear test on Monday, the UN announced that it was a clear violation of a resolution that banned these tests and is now beginning to work on a new resolution.  Seems to many of us all the resolutions in the world won’t hamper this country’s resolve.  After all, North Korea has already broken two previous resolutions.  Just because both China and Russia are backing away from supporting this country means nothing to North Korea. 

The only thing that’s being done is a lot of talk about a meeting on Tuesday that will address the need for stronger resolutions.  There’s talk of who will be attending this meeting, there’s talk of why the meeting’s been scheduled and there’s talk of sanctions.  But it’s all just talk.

One U.S. Ambassador, Susan Rice, said, “What we heard today was swift, clear, unequivocal condemnation and opposition to what occurred…therefore, the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures.”

Russia’s Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin said, “We are one of the founding fathers, Russia is, of those documents, so we think they’re extremely important in current international relations…anything that undermines the regimes is very serious and needs to have a strong response”.

Japan’s U.N. Ambassador said, “…we need a really, really clear and firm message from this, preferably a resolution”.

And finally, President Obama’s comments today:

“Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea’s isolation.  It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery”.

How much talk will be too much before the international community steps up and really makes life hard on a North Korea that finds it amusing so much talk is being generated due to its actions?  All the meetings in the world aren’t going to change a thing.  This country is, and will remain, a threat until we collectively remove that threat.  Each test North Korea conducts is only allowing it to improve its goal and mission.  Are we waiting for these people to perfect their missions?  The fact it’s not hampered in the least, even knowing it stands alone, is alarming and makes many wonder what it is they have that backs up the arrogant attitude they’re flaunting.

In the meantime, talks are scheduled for later this week.