WASHINGTON — At the risk of triggering a military confrontation, the Obama administration is pressing for new U.N. steps aimed at cutting off North Korea’s ability to peddle its nuclear wares, including an arrangement to interdict air and sea shipments of nuclear materials and hardware to and from North Korea.
The core U.S. concern is that North Korea, in cementing its position as a nuclear power, could accelerate the global spread of nuclear know- how and weapons, along with ballistic missiles.
But if the U.N. effort provides authority to forcibly board vessels in international waters on suspicion of carrying banned materials, as advocated by the U.S., it could prompt a violent reaction from North Korea, which has said publicly many times that U.N. penalties would amount to an act of war.
North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Monday that Pyongyang “will consider any sanction a declaration of war and will take due corresponding self-defense measures.”
U.N. diplomats were to meet Monday to discuss a resolution in response to North Korea’s announced underground nuclear test May 25. The White House said President Barack Obama will discuss the situation with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during a June 16 meeting. The Associated Press
