U.S. says time to act on North Korea, China says not up to Beijing alone

[rooster59]

U.S. says time to act on North Korea, China says not up to Beijing alone

By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (C) takes a paper during a Security Council regarding the situation in North Korea at the United Nations (UN) in New York City, NY, U.S. April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to 'catastrophic consequences,' while China and Russia rebuked Washington's threat of military force.

 

The showdown in a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korea highlighted the diplomatic challenges of resolving tensions over Pyongyang, with the Trump administration aggressively pressing Beijing to rein in its ally, and China and Russia pushing back against Washington's rhetoric.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem.

 

"The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that Tillerson later rebuffed.

 

The ministerial meeting of the council, chaired by Tillerson, exposed old divisions between the United States and China on how to deal with North Korea. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear programme before such talks start.

 

"It is necessary to put aside the debate over who should take the first step and stop arguing who is right and who is wrong," Wang told the council.

"Now is the time to seriously consider resuming talks."

 

Tillerson responded: "We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table with North Korea, we will not reward their violations of past resolutions, we will not reward their bad behaviour with talks."

 

Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions aimed at impeding the development of its nuclear and missile programs. The council has strengthened sanctions following each of North Korea's five nuclear tests.

 

North Korea chose not to make a statement and did not take part in the meeting.

 

In Tillerson's first visit to the United Nations he scolded the Security Council for not fully enforcing sanctions against North Korea, saying if the body had acted, tensions over Pyongyang might not have escalated.

 

He urged the council to act before North Korea does and called on states to sever diplomatic and financial ties with Pyongyang and suspend the flow of North Korean guest workers, as well as impose bans on North Korean imports, especially coal.

 

"Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he said.

 

The United States was not pushing for regime change and preferred a negotiated solution, but Pyongyang, for its own sake, should dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, he said.

 

"The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland," Tillerson said.

 

Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's position that all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists with its nuclear and missile development, but Wang said military threats would not help.

 

'FRIGHTENING' CONSEQUENCES

 

Wang said dialogue and negotiations were the "only way out."

 

"The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," he said.

 

Wang and Tillerson met several hours after the council meeting and appeared to have a cordial exchange.

 

"I appreciate the constructive way that China has engaged with the United States to address the challenges on the Korean peninsula that are common to both of us," the American diplomat said.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable."

 

"The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether there's going to be a war or not," he told the council. "One ill thought-out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences."

 

Gatilov said North Korea felt threatened by regular joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises and the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula.

 

China and Russia both also repeated their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Gatilov described it as a "destabilising effort," while Wang said it damaged trust among the parties on the North Korea issue.

 

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the council that to bring North Korea back to the table the international community "must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price."

 

"There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible," he said.

 

The Trump administration is focussing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-29

[dieseldave1951]

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable."

but in  the Ukraine its ok then ????

[cruisemonkey]

35 minutes ago, dieseldave1951 said:

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable."

but in  the Ukraine its ok then ????

Well... you know a terrorist to some is a freedom fighter to others, and vice versa... same thing applies to nations.

[PatOngo]

U.S. says time to act on North Korea, China says not up to Beijing alone

What will be the next move for the Trump family business..........U.S.A. Incorporated?

[tandor]

..i really don't see why the US are pushing NK so hard when to date they have had tests, no-one has been fired on or attacked..why not sit back and observe what the neighbouring countries are going to do and then step in when invited. 

After all that's what China is doing..nothing.

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

U.S. says time to act on North Korea, China says not up to Beijing alone

Psst Donald your being conned by your new BF

[Andaman Al]

For some reason which I never fathomed out, before the election many Trump voters said they would not vote for Hillary because we would end up in a nuclear war??? We have never been as close to an all out nuclear conflict since WW2 as we are now. I was reading again the press reports of Donald saying "we have nukes, why can't we use them", and it sends a chill down my spine. The man child is itching to press that button (hence he had a practice red button installed on his desk for his coke !) and this is getting serious.

 

All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights, or a rabbit rolled on it's back having its stomach stroked. We kind of know this might just happen but we are oblivious and doing nothing  - because Kim Jong is a bad guy (well so is Trump) . Kim Jong is not a threat to anyone else in the world, he is the kid on the block pretending to be tough when really if we slapped him he would run a mile crying.

 

It is unfortunate for the N Korean people but THEY must rise up and overthrow Kim jong. It is not a fight where we should even consider throwing nukes around or anything else. Millions will die on the Korean peninsula - (which is all just numbers and news if you live 7-10 thousand miles away in the USA), including major allies of the USA, S Korea.

 

Where is the headmaster to grab Trump and Kim Jong by the ears and pull them off for a beating when you need him. Donald and his three little piggies (4 with Kushner) will be licking their lips. Imagine all the real estate opportunities coming up soon, and think of the cheap factories they can set up in N Korea for a 5 usd a week salary for workers.

 

It's a mad mad world and I don't want me and my family to be along for the ride.

[elgordo38]

40 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

For some reason which I never fathomed out, before the election many Trump voters said they would not vote for Hillary because we would end up in a nuclear war??? We have never been as close to an all out nuclear conflict since WW2 as we are now. I was reading again the press reports of Donald saying "we have nukes, why can't we use them", and it sends a chill down my spine. The man child is itching to press that button (hence he had a practice red button installed on his desk for his coke !) and this is getting serious.

 

All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights, or a rabbit rolled on it's back having its stomach stroked. We kind of know this might just happen but we are oblivious and doing nothing  - because Kim Jong is a bad guy (well so is Trump) . Kim Jong is not a threat to anyone else in the world, he is the kid on the block pretending to be tough when really if we slapped him he would run a mile crying.

 

It is unfortunate for the N Korean people but THEY must rise up and overthrow Kim jong. It is not a fight where we should even consider throwing nukes around or anything else. Millions will die on the Korean peninsula - (which is all just numbers and news if you live 7-10 thousand miles away in the USA), including major allies of the USA, S Korea.

 

Where is the headmaster to grab Trump and Kim Jong by the ears and pull them off for a beating when you need him. Donald and his three little piggies (4 with Kushner) will be licking their lips. Imagine all the real estate opportunities coming up soon, and think of the cheap factories they can set up in N Korea for a 5 usd a week salary for workers.

 

It's a mad mad world and I don't want me and my family to be along for the ride.

Well said and so true. 

[sanemax]

2 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

I was reading again the press reports of Donald saying "we have nukes, why can't we use them", and it sends a chill down my spine. The man child is itching to press that button

Trump denied saying that .

Seems the allegation was a lie , 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-three-times-msnbc-why-cant-we-a7170166.html

 

[Andaman Al]

33 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Trump denied saying that .

Seems the allegation was a lie , 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-three-times-msnbc-why-cant-we-a7170166.html

 

Trump says it was a lie, nobody else. Why would you believe anything that Trump says? seriously! Trump is infamous for saying something and then denying he has ever said it, even when what he said is recorded.

 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jul/06/17-things-donald-trump-said-and-then-denied-saying/

[dunroaming]

48 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Trump denied saying that .

Seems the allegation was a lie , 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-three-times-msnbc-why-cant-we-a7170166.html

 

It was well documented and many commentators remarked on it at the time.  There was no denial from Trump then, only later.  Trump lies all the time and nobody apart from his ardent supporters (not many left) believe him anymore. 

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Trump denied saying that .

Seems the allegation was a lie , 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-three-times-msnbc-why-cant-we-a7170166.html

 

There are dozens of cases where Trump denies saying things that he was recorded saying on video.  Why should his word count for anything?

[sanemax]

40 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

There are dozens of cases where Trump denies saying things that he was recorded saying on video.  Why should his word count for anything?

We are talking about this particular alleged quote

Is there any recorded evidence of this particular alleged quite being said ?

If so, post it up.

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

We are talking about this particular alleged quote

Is there any recorded evidence of this particular alleged quite being said ?

If so, post it up.

In this case, we'll have to rely on form. And Donald Trump is, by any objective measure, the most massively dishonest person ever to exist in modern American politics. No one else comes close.

[Scott]

Here's one link to his inquiry about nuclear weapons while he was a candidate:

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/290217-scarborough-trump-asked-about-adviser-about-using-nuclear

 

There are other links as well.  

[digger70]

Crap.That's what this all is.Has NK fired any Nukes to any Country/ship/plane/satellite or the bloody moon or mars?NO So leave them alone Don't Hassle them or they will retaliate.Other countries have played with the Nuke program  USA /USSR/UK/CHINA The USA is the only country that so far has used Nukes for WAR The world should be afraid from the USA instead of NK.  If the USA and other countries keep up this Shit stirring, NK WILL Retaliate and Shit Will Hit The Fan.

[sujoop]

FYI to all the John Wayne/Trumpsters/Yippee Ki Yay/trigger-happy wannabe's out there, please have a read below and on behalf of approx 10 million souls in the Seoul capital area, kamsahamnida:
 

"The 10 million people living in Seoul will also not be protected by THAAD, since it is being installed 125 miles south of the city. "It cannot engage missiles fired at Seoul, so it offers no additional protection of the city"
 

"In the case of a saturation attack, or a large volume of missiles as Postol described, THAAD's defense capabilities "can be expected to be very low, probably zero or close to that"

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/experts-north-korean-nukes-defeat-182100642.html

 

THAAD will be fully set up in a couple days. Meanwhile, Trump  bigly re-lived his electoral college victory (yet again) with his fan base in Pennsylvania to mark 100 days of  - quoting Trump: "My first 100 days are 'most successful' in US history" and as the afterglow of yet another self-congratulation rally fades we'll have to wait to see what the next tweets in the next week brings...

[ilostmypassword]

Guess who's paying for the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. If you guessed South Korea you'd be wrong.

"National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster said Sunday that the U.S. will indeed pay for the roughly $1 billion THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, amid neighboring North Korea’s repeated ballistic test launches."

 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/30/mcmaster-says-us-will-pay-for-thaad-anti-missile-system-in-south-korea.html

Not that it's your fault.

"He spoke days after President Trump said South Korea should pay for the anti-missile system and hours after Seoul said that McMaster had assured its chief national security officer, Kim Kwan-jin, about the deal."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/30/mcmaster-says-us-will-pay-for-thaad-anti-missile-system-in-south-korea.html

 

[ToS2014]

On 4/29/2017 at 5:10 PM, elgordo38 said:

Well said and so true. 

"All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights..." and the potential for S.Korea or Japan to be hit by one of the (multiple tested....albeit some have failed) missiles.  When, (god and/or Buddha forbid) that occurs, who is the one looking in the headlights getting their tummy rubbed?

[ToS2014]

On 4/29/2017 at 4:29 PM, Andaman Al said:

For some reason which I never fathomed out, before the election many Trump voters said they would not vote for Hillary because we would end up in a nuclear war??? We have never been as close to an all out nuclear conflict since WW2 as we are now. I was reading again the press reports of Donald saying "we have nukes, why can't we use them", and it sends a chill down my spine. The man child is itching to press that button (hence he had a practice red button installed on his desk for his coke !) and this is getting serious.

 

All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights, or a rabbit rolled on it's back having its stomach stroked. We kind of know this might just happen but we are oblivious and doing nothing  - because Kim Jong is a bad guy (well so is Trump) . Kim Jong is not a threat to anyone else in the world, he is the kid on the block pretending to be tough when really if we slapped him he would run a mile crying.

 

It is unfortunate for the N Korean people but THEY must rise up and overthrow Kim jong. It is not a fight where we should even consider throwing nukes around or anything else. Millions will die on the Korean peninsula - (which is all just numbers and news if you live 7-10 thousand miles away in the USA), including major allies of the USA, S Korea.

 

Where is the headmaster to grab Trump and Kim Jong by the ears and pull them off for a beating when you need him. Donald and his three little piggies (4 with Kushner) will be licking their lips. Imagine all the real estate opportunities coming up soon, and think of the cheap factories they can set up in N Korea for a 5 usd a week salary for workers.

 

It's a mad mad world and I don't want me and my family to be along for the ride.

"All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights..." and the potential for S.Korea or Japan to be hit by one of the (multiple tested....albeit some have failed) missiles.  When, (god and/or Buddha forbid) that occurs, who is the one looking in the headlights getting their tummy rubbed?

[Andaman Al]

1 hour ago, ToS2014 said:

"All of us in the world are currently like a deer in the headlights..." and the potential for S.Korea or Japan to be hit by one of the (multiple tested....albeit some have failed) missiles.  When, (god and/or Buddha forbid) that occurs, who is the one looking in the headlights getting their tummy rubbed?

???

 

All of us but the people paying the price will be the people closest to the Theatre of operations! IE NOT the people in the USA! Explain what you mean!

[Jonmarleesco]

On 4/29/2017 at 6:54 AM, rooster59 said:

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem.

That may be; but China, like it or not, is the main cog in the supply chain that enables NK to create its mischief, and yet has done bugger-all to date to bring the rogue state and its leadership into line, something it could have done, and can do, very effectively.

[Jonmarleesco]

On 4/29/2017 at 8:57 PM, ilostmypassword said:

In this case, we'll have to rely on form. And Donald Trump is, by any objective measure, the most massively dishonest person ever to exist in modern American politics. No one else comes close.

You think? That must render the likes of Cheney a veritable angel.