[Editorial] Prudence needed in adopting U.N. resolution

On October 14 New York time, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on sanctions for North Korea. Fortunately, the resolution excluded the invocation of Article 42 of Chapter VII of the United Nations charter, which would allow for the use of military force, and centers instead on economic sanctions based on Article 41. Still, there is going to be a rapid surge in tensions surrounding the Korean peninsula for the time being.

Problems could be ignited in the course of implementing the sanctions, so our government and for that matter all areas of our society need to approach this with prudence. Having North Korea abandon its nukes and thereby create a nuclear free peninsula is a goal that must be attained, but it is also something that cannot be achieved through physical strength alone. In addition, we need to avoid the risk of a situation that spins out of control if we give the North reason to react in desperation at a time when it is sensitive about the pressure of sanctions.

The most sensitive part of the resolution is clause 8, which calls for the prohibition of sales of weapons to North Korea by UN member states, that they freeze weapons-related financial transactions, and that they engage in cargo inspections in order to prevent the illicit trade of weaponry. The United States sees the inclusion of cargo ship inspections in subsection F of clause 8 as international approval for its Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and is pressuring China and South Korea to participate. Indeed, once the U.N. resolution was approved, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said that since the resolution binds China, China needs to find a way to participate.

Chinese ambassador Wang Guangya has clearly stated that his country will not participate in searches on the high seas, saying that doing so would "cause conflict that has serious consequences for the region." South Korea has even more reason to worry about these types of searches leading to a clash. North and South Korea are still in a state of unstable peace, and there have been clashes over the Northern Limit Line (NLL) that separates the territorial waters of each Korea. That is why we need to be careful about participating in ship inspections. Subsection F says U.N. member states need to act "in accordance with their national authorities and legislation." Members have to avoid causing unnecessary tension by overinterpreting the resolution.

Subsection D, which calls for the freezing of funds related to the development of weapons of mass destruction, must also be interpreted with prudence. After the UNSC vote, U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley made it clear that there will be stronger measures imposed on financial transactions with Pyongyang. That being the case, it is possible the U.S. is going to take issue with the Mount Geumgang (Kumgang) tourism project and the Gaeseong (Kaesong) Industrial Complex. Our government needs to work diplomatically to make sure these enterprises are not stopped, if also out of consideration for the influence that such an action would have on our economy.

Also of the utmost importance is getting the U.S. to the negotiating table and have it resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through diplomatic means. Our government - and for that matter, foreign minister Ban Ki-moon, selected as the next United Nations Secretary-General - needs to make a peaceful resolution to the issue their highest priority and by doing so repay the country for the all-out support it showed Minister Ban during his candidacy.