Ann's Blog On North Korea's possession of Nuclear Weapons

Ann's Blog #5:

"Vote On North Korea Sanctions Expected Saturday" (cnn.com, October 13, 2006)

Lately North Korea has been making headlines left and right and the article that I read was yet another dealing with North Korea's Nuclear weapon possession. This one deals with the positions of other countries like the United States, Japan and China. The issues over the sanctions that are being debated are again discussed in this article. U.S. Ambassador, John Bolton is quoted on this subject while the U.N. Security Council decided to postpone their decision on whether or not to sanction North Korea. There is still questioning on whether the nuclear test was real not just a threat to remove sanctions. Even under suspicions, the United States just wants a resolution to the conflict. In an attempt to do just that the United States has removed the ban on the imports from North Korea. The Bush Administration has warned North Korea that if they make any sudden violent action the United States would stand behind Japan and South Korea.

I hope that I am not mistaken on my interpretation of the issue, but it seems to me that the leader of North Korea is using this in a dangerous way. I understand that he needs some bargaining power to be able to get rid of the sanctions being put on his country and to help the people of his nation who are so poor that they are starving to death. I just feel like there are many alternative options for him. In my opinion, it is ridiculous for anyone to desire possession of nuclear weapons. That should be one of those lessons that are learned by our ancestors mistakes, without actually having to go through it ourselves. It isn't necessary to go to such destructive lengths just to make a point. I think that there are other ways to let the rest of the world know that changes need to be made for the people of North Korea. Obviously nuclear weapons are a huge threat to the rest of the world, but, to me, it's poor of the leader to have to resort to that. From there comes the issue of whether or not the sanctions should be lifted or not. North Korea put the rest of the world in a hard position (I suppose as was their intention) because no one wants to mess with a country who has nuclear weapons and isn't afraid to use them. At the same time it's hard to justify giving in to a force whose purpose is mass destruction. How does a country get around circumstances like these? Especially when a country refuses to negotiate. It looks as though the leaders of countries like ours and Japan and South Korea are doing a good job of figuring out the best way to handle the situation. They are deciding to join forces if necessary. All the circumstances leave the world tiptoeing around the issues. I am glad that I am only a student at Jefferson Senior High and don't have to be the leader in the matter.

News Article From:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/13/nkorea.sanctions/index.html