ID :
64263
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 20:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/64263
The shortlink copeid
U.S. looking at "all options" to deal with N. Korea: Stephens
By Tony Chang
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, June 4 (Yonhap) -- The United States has put "all
options" on the table to counter North Korea's continued provocations, the top
U.S. envoy in South Korea said Thursday, adding Washington will pursue its own
sanctions after the U.N. takes action against the communist nation for its latest
nuclear test.
"In terms of the options that we are looking at, I think we're looking at all
options," Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said in a forum here with South Korean
journalists.
She was responding to a barrage of questions on whether the U.S. will consider
military action if North Korea takes additional provocative steps, including the
detonation of another nuclear bomb and the firing of an intercontinental
ballistic missile.
North Korea abandoned the six-way talks on its nuclear program and conducted its
second known nuclear test last week in protest of the U.N. Security Council's
condemnation of its long-range rocket test on April 5.
South Korean intelligence authorities said they detected signs of the North's
preparations for yet another long-range missile launch from its new base along
its west coast, while the U.N. council is debating a resolution to punish the
nation for its nuclear blast.
The North is also threatening an armed conflict with the South. A North Korean
naval boat briefly crossed the disputed western sea border into the South, but
retreated after verbal warnings were issued from South Korean patrol ships.
Stephens said the top priority is to hammer out a compromise on the envisioned
resolution amid reports that North Korea's traditional allies -- China and Russia
-- are opposed to strong punitive measures that may deal a serious blow to the
North's economy and lead to instability.
The U.S. will then take the next step, she added.
"We're looking closely in the U.N., with our partners in the region. I think
after the consultations are completed, we'll make some decisions on what options
to pursue," the envoy said.
She said the ongoing regional trip by a high-profile U.S. government delegation,
led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, is part of efforts to
strengthen cooperation with other related nations in dealing with the North.
The delegation is widely seen as seeking support from South Korea, Japan, and
China for Washington's plan to put financial sanctions on the cash-strapped
country.
Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence, is a member of the team. In 2006, he was in charge of
U.S. financial restrictions on a small bank in Macau, the Banco Delta Asia,
accused of helping North Korea launder money from counterfeiting and other
illicit activities. On Wednesday, the Washington Times cited U.S. intelligence
officials as saying that the North is continuing to produce high-quality
counterfeit $100 bills called "supernotes" under a program led by Gen. O
Kuk-ryol, deputy chief of the country's powerful National Defense Commission.
Levey met with South Korea's Vice Finance Minister Hur Kyung-wook earlier
Thursday to discuss cooperating against international money laundering.
The ambassador said diplomacy is preferred, but other options can't be ruled out
if the North continues provocations.
"If we have a situation where North Korea carries out continuously these kinds of
action and seeks a very aggressive way to develop a long-range missile and
nuclear capability, we have to take that into account as we develop our defensive
posture," she said.
The seasoned diplomat said a military option will be among the last to be
considered.
"Any decision on taking military action is a political decision made by our
highest political leaders and is a very serious decision," she said.
She was guarded about media speculation that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore
will soon visit North Korea to negotiate the release of two American journalists
who have been detained there for nearly three months.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters at Gore's Current TV network, were captured by
North Korean border guards on March 17 for allegedly entering the country
illegally and engaging in "hostile acts." They were producing a story on North
Koreans fleeing their homeland.
North Korea announced it began the trial of the journalists Thursday afternoon.
(END)
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, June 4 (Yonhap) -- The United States has put "all
options" on the table to counter North Korea's continued provocations, the top
U.S. envoy in South Korea said Thursday, adding Washington will pursue its own
sanctions after the U.N. takes action against the communist nation for its latest
nuclear test.
"In terms of the options that we are looking at, I think we're looking at all
options," Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said in a forum here with South Korean
journalists.
She was responding to a barrage of questions on whether the U.S. will consider
military action if North Korea takes additional provocative steps, including the
detonation of another nuclear bomb and the firing of an intercontinental
ballistic missile.
North Korea abandoned the six-way talks on its nuclear program and conducted its
second known nuclear test last week in protest of the U.N. Security Council's
condemnation of its long-range rocket test on April 5.
South Korean intelligence authorities said they detected signs of the North's
preparations for yet another long-range missile launch from its new base along
its west coast, while the U.N. council is debating a resolution to punish the
nation for its nuclear blast.
The North is also threatening an armed conflict with the South. A North Korean
naval boat briefly crossed the disputed western sea border into the South, but
retreated after verbal warnings were issued from South Korean patrol ships.
Stephens said the top priority is to hammer out a compromise on the envisioned
resolution amid reports that North Korea's traditional allies -- China and Russia
-- are opposed to strong punitive measures that may deal a serious blow to the
North's economy and lead to instability.
The U.S. will then take the next step, she added.
"We're looking closely in the U.N., with our partners in the region. I think
after the consultations are completed, we'll make some decisions on what options
to pursue," the envoy said.
She said the ongoing regional trip by a high-profile U.S. government delegation,
led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, is part of efforts to
strengthen cooperation with other related nations in dealing with the North.
The delegation is widely seen as seeking support from South Korea, Japan, and
China for Washington's plan to put financial sanctions on the cash-strapped
country.
Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence, is a member of the team. In 2006, he was in charge of
U.S. financial restrictions on a small bank in Macau, the Banco Delta Asia,
accused of helping North Korea launder money from counterfeiting and other
illicit activities. On Wednesday, the Washington Times cited U.S. intelligence
officials as saying that the North is continuing to produce high-quality
counterfeit $100 bills called "supernotes" under a program led by Gen. O
Kuk-ryol, deputy chief of the country's powerful National Defense Commission.
Levey met with South Korea's Vice Finance Minister Hur Kyung-wook earlier
Thursday to discuss cooperating against international money laundering.
The ambassador said diplomacy is preferred, but other options can't be ruled out
if the North continues provocations.
"If we have a situation where North Korea carries out continuously these kinds of
action and seeks a very aggressive way to develop a long-range missile and
nuclear capability, we have to take that into account as we develop our defensive
posture," she said.
The seasoned diplomat said a military option will be among the last to be
considered.
"Any decision on taking military action is a political decision made by our
highest political leaders and is a very serious decision," she said.
She was guarded about media speculation that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore
will soon visit North Korea to negotiate the release of two American journalists
who have been detained there for nearly three months.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters at Gore's Current TV network, were captured by
North Korean border guards on March 17 for allegedly entering the country
illegally and engaging in "hostile acts." They were producing a story on North
Koreans fleeing their homeland.
North Korea announced it began the trial of the journalists Thursday afternoon.
(END)
