A Crisis: North Korea

NATO, the 26-country Western alliance, condemned North Korea's test-firing of missiles, including a long-range weapon, and the United Nations Security Council is staging crisis talks today, at Japan's request, after North Korea test-fired a seventh missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Last night, the Communist regime fired five mid-range missiles capable of reaching Japan, and a sixth, a long range Taepodong-2, believed to be capable of reaching Alaska. Then, this morning, in defiance of immediate international condemnation it launched a seventh. The UN urged North Korea to return immediately to six-party talks on its nuclear program that have been stalled since November.

Security Council member Japan called for “swift, strong and resolute” action in response to the missile launches as the Council will considered the test-firing to be provocative behavior. As a result, the Security Council could use its Chapter VII powers, granted through that specific section of the UN Charter, to impose a punitive measure on North Korea. Although the punitive measures could range from diplomatic sanctions to the lawful use of military force, I would venture from past experience that the punitive measure in this case will likely be economic sanctions introduced through Japan’s resolution.