DPRK Foreign Ministry Statement Denounces UNSC Resolution Over DPRK Missile Launch

Policy Forum Online 06-58A: July 17th, 2006
DPRK Foreign Ministry Statement Denounces UNSC Resolution Over DPRK Missile Launch

Essay by the DPRK Foreign Ministry

CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Statement by the DPRK Foreign Ministry

III. Nautilus invites your responses

I. Introduction

This statement was issued by the DPRK Foreign Ministry on July 16, 2006 in response to UN resolution 1695 condemning in the DPRK’s July 4th missile test. The statements says “First, our Republic strongly denounces and fully condemns the UNSC resolution, a product of the US hostile policy toward the DPRK, and will not be bound to it in the least… Second, our Republic will strengthen its self-defensive war deterrent by all means and methods now that the situation has reached the worst phase due to the extremely hostile act of the United States.”

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Nautilus Institute. Readers should note that Nautilus seeks a diversity of views and opinions on contentious topics in order to identify common ground.

II. Statement by the DPRK Foreign Ministry

– DPRK Foreign Ministry Statement Denounces UNSC Resolution Over DPRK Missile Launch
by the DPRK Foreign Ministry

On the Korean Peninsula today, an extremely dangerous situation has been fostered where the sovereignty of our nation and the security of the state have been gravely encroached upon due to the heinous hostile policy of the United States toward the DPRK and the irresponsibility of the UN Security Council [UNSC].

The United States recently made a fuss by bringing to the UN [the issue of] the missile launch our military carried out as part of its regular military exercises for self-defense under the motto of responding to it in one voice, and then took the lead in the adoption on 15 July of a UNSC resolution that takes serious note of our exercise of self-defensive right.

This resolution masterminded by the United States appealed to the offensive of international pressure to disarm and suffocate us while denouncing the missile launch that is a part of our self-defensive right as being a threat to international peace and safety.

By doing so, the United States is attempting to turn the issue between the DPRK and the United States into an issue between the DPRK and the UN, and to form an international alliance against us. Because of this, our dignity and sovereignty have been seriously abused and the situation has become extremely aggravated, and this has resulted in the serious consequence of gravely destroying peace and safety on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asian region.

It is completely unreasonable and brigandish behavior in the first place to have branded our missile launch — which does not breach any international law — a violation, and to have it brought to the UN. The fact that up until the last minute, the United States attempted to apply Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which legitimizes military actions against us, shows that the resolution is a prelude to the provocation of a second Korean war.

It is brigandish logic to say missile launches that the United States and Japan conduct are legitimate while the missile launch exercise that we conduct to protect ourselves is called illegitimate. Today’s reality is such that, as long as it has US approval, either a missile launch or a nuclear test is condoned and not even brought to the UN.

Having extensively made mockery of [hu’ironghaltaero hu’ironghan] our true heart and sincere efforts to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner through dialogue and negotiations, the United States is now asserting that it will not punish us if we come to the six-party talks and punish us if we do not. This is shameless sophism which cannot be justified by anything.

In today’s world where the law of the jungle prevails, one can defend justice only when one has strength.

Neither the United Nations, nor anyone else, can protect us.

The past history and today’s reality show that only when one has one’s own powerful strength, can one defend a nation’s dignity and a country’s sovereignty and independence.

It is a day-dream to think that our principle will also change as the world changes.

We have already clarified that we will have no option but to take stronger physical actions [poda kangkyo’nghan mullijo’k haengdongjoch’iru’l] should someone take issue with our military’s self-defensive missile launch exercise [chawijo’gin misail palsa hullyo’n] and put pressure on it.

With authorization, the DPRK Foreign Ministry provides the following clarification in response to the grave situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula:

First, our Republic strongly denounces and fully condemns the UNSC resolution, a product of the US hostile policy toward the DPRK, and will not be bound to it in the least. [ch’o’ttchae uri konghwagugu’n migugu’i taechoso’n cho’ktaesi cho’ngch’aegu’i sanmurin yuen anjo’nbojangisahoe kyo’ru’iru’l kangnyo’khi kyut’anhago cho’nmyo’n paegyo’khamyo’ ie ch’uhodo kuaedoeji annu’l ko’sida]

Second, our Republic will strengthen its self-defensive war deterrent by all means and methods now that the situation has reached the worst phase due to the extremely hostile act of the United States. [tultchae uri konghwagugu’n migugu’i kuktanhan cho’ktae haengwiro inhae ch’oeagu’i cho’ngsega toraedoego innu’n sanghwangeso’ modu’n sudangwa pangbo’bu’l tahayo’ chawijo’k cho’njaeng o’kcheryo’gu’l paekpangu’ro kanghwahae nagalgo’sida]

We will firmly defend, in our own way, the ideology and system chosen by our people by upholding military-first politics, a treasured sword of sure victory. [urinu’n p’ilsu’ngu’i pogo’min so’ngun cho’ngch’iru’l pattu’lgo uriinmini so’nt’aekhan sasanggwa chedoru’l urisiktaero kutto’nhi chik’yo’ kalgo’sida]

16 July chuch’e 95 (2006), Pyongyang

III. Nautilus Invites Your Responses

The Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network invites your responses to this essay. Please send responses to: napsnet-reply@nautilus.org . Responses will be considered for redistribution to the network only if they include the author’s name, affiliation, and explicit consent.

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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Project ( napsnet-reply@nautilus.org )
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