The U.N.'s latest round of sanctions against North Korea "authorize" searches of North Korean ships suspected of transporting ballistic missile or nuclear materials. North Korea's response was less than favorable, threatening to attack any country which stops its ships.
The situation with North Korea appears to be moving towards real, substantial conflict on a daily basis. It is obvious that North Korea would like to have nuclear capabilities to gain more power in the region. It is ridiculous for the United States to act against North Korea's right to not only defend itself, but gain strategic power in its region of the world. That is what the United States has done throughout its entire history. The only difference has been the politics of democracy vs. totalitarianism.
So why should we be working to stop this? The Christian Science Monitor reported last month that North Korea's focus may be on exporting their technology for desperately needed cash. Countries on the export list include Iran, Syria, and Yemen. In addition, the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis think tank estimates North Korea makes over $1.5 billion a year in missile sales. This would not be a big deal, as the United States makes far more, but these are quite frightening clients.
While the United States may have developed nuclear technology, and probably shared that technology with its allies, it did not spread that technology to countries bent on destroying other countries and people or countries that refuse to join the international system in which we depend on economically.
For this reason, I think intervening in North Korea's nuclear ambitions is acceptable. Failure to do so will result in a situation in which the United States and its people are less secure.
No comments:
Post a Comment