07/07/2009

News / U.S. Sees Seriousness of Purpose on North Korean Sanctions

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — The U.S. coordinator for implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 1874, which targets North Korean nuclear and missile technology, says East Asian countries are responding well to efforts to restrict Pyongyang’s ability to continue its programs in defiance of the international community.

“What we found … over the past couple of weeks, is a seriousness of purpose from all the countries in the region in implementing the resolutions. We now are down to the question of brass tacks [essential facts] about how you do that, information sharing and cooperation,” said Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who has recently been meeting with officials in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking in Kuala Lumpur July 6 after discussions with Malaysian government and banking officials, Goldberg said the United States will continue to share its information on North Korean nuclear and proliferation activities with other countries in the interest of implementing 1874 and previous U.N. resolutions targeting North Korean nuclear and missile activities.

“We think that it is important to share that information and to make sure that whatever trade is taking place, whatever financial activities are taking place, are legal and do not violate the U.N. resolutions,” he said. “These are not things that give us great pleasure, but they are necessary to return to a meaningful process on denuclearization and nonproliferation.”

The ambassador’s remarks came after North Korea continued a wave of missile tests in spite of increased international pressure. News reports said seven short- and medium-range missiles, which can travel between 1,000 kilometers and 1,160 kilometers and thus could reach both South Korea and Japan, were tested July 3–4.

“I believe it is noteworthy that while North Korea continues to violate these U.N. resolutions, the rest of the world is meeting, discussing and coordinating our position in implementing them,” Goldberg said.

The ambassador said Malaysia has expertise and experience in the financial sector “that we hope to tap as we move forward.”

“We want to make sure that the whole international banking system is safe and secure, and it is the responsibility of every government. And we will share information as it becomes available, with the Malaysian government and with other governments, about possible uses of the banking system that are outside of those principles,” he said.

Goldberg acknowledged that the financial sector is a “complicated area,” but said Malaysia and other countries have expressed a strong willingness to cooperate.

The goal of the U.N. resolutions is to promote North Korea’s return to the Six-Party Talks, which also include South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States, he said.

“I want to stress that our goal is in no way to damage or punish the North Korean people, but rather, to use this opportunity to return to our original goal — a goal shared by all of the international community — which is dialogue through the Six-Party process on denuclearization and nonproliferation in the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

A transcript of Goldberg's remarks is available on America.gov.
http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2009/July/20090706175526esnamfuak0.8597376.html

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