The Patriot Post® · Fresh Sanctions Levied Against North Korea

Finally, nearly two months after its latest provocative nuclear test, the UN Security Council has imposed harsh new sanctions on North Korea in hopes of re-reigning in maniacal dictator Kim Jong-un. The Associated Press reports the UNSC “on Wednesday unanimously approved the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity. The United States and China, North Korea’s traditional ally, spent seven weeks negotiating the new sanctions, which include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in ‘illicit activities.’” Until this week, Korea’s behavior has gone unpunished. But hey, better late than never.

Naturally, Kim Jong-un responded with a tantrum by sending numerous “projectiles into the sea,” as described by the AP. Moreover, the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said “it is nothing but a pipe dream for the U.S. to expect the DPRK to collapse due to ‘sanctions.’ This is as foolish as waiting the missions of the sun and stars to come to an end.” Perhaps — as long as Barack Obama is president, anyway (remember: the country was inspired by the Iran deal). But the Security Council hopes Kim will feel compelled to negotiate a denuclearization deal. That will be a hard sell, however. Astoundingly, South Korea estimates that its neighbor has invested $4 billion into missile testing, including four nukes. Yet North Korea is one of the world’s most impoverished countries, procuring $100 million every year in UN humanitarian aid. A country willing to starve its people to death while spending lavishly on a nuclear program is not one that will be easily toppled.