Obama Authorized Economic Sanctions on North Korea

[hanger4]

President Obama authorized new economic sanctions on North Korea Friday in retaliation for the recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment and threats made by hackers against theaters that planned to show “The Interview.”


The president’s executive order gives the administration the ability to target any North Korean government official, government entity, Korean Workers Party Official, or any person or entity that is providing support to the North Korean government, according to a senior administration official.




“This is a very broad authority that will allow us at the time and place of our choosing to impose sanctions,” a senior administration official said.
“


http://thehill.com/policy/international/228393-obama-sanctions-north-korea-over-sony-hack


Obama last month - Cuba shows us sanctions don't work.

Obama this month - North Korea shows us we need more sanctions.

Confusing this foreign policy stuff.

[PolWatch]

hmm....what do we do if we find it was all a publicity stunt?

[hanger4]

hmm....what do we do if we find it was all a publicity stunt?

Actually Ms. PolWatch that makes more sense than any other scenario.

[PolWatch]

I'm a cynic...I have suspected that was possible from the get-go. Now, Korea denies everything. What if the FBI just doesn't want to admit they took Sony's word for everything? Would anyone be surprised at an international incident caused by a publicity stunt for a second rate movie?

[iustitia]

FBI Busted Falsely Blaming North Korea for Sony Hack (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/12/fbi-busted-falsely-blaming-north-korea-sony-hack.html)

North Korea doesn't even have an economy to sanction! This is so stupid. It's like when they blamed some guy that made a video for the Benghazi massacre even they knew he had nothing to do with it. They even arrested that dude for nothing. All government knows how to do is lie and distract.

[Peter1469]

We should have never lifted the sanctions the last time.

[Alyosha]

They didn't work to oust the government. What are the point of sanctions again?

[Peter1469]

They didn't work to oust the government. What are the point of sanctions again?

They still think that we are at war with them.


Perhaps an unconditional surrender is in order? :smiley:

[iustitia]

I don't think attacking their economy will make them think we're at peace with them.

[Peter1469]

I don't think attacking their economy will make them think we're at peace with them.

I have seen the place close up. They ought to be isolated.

[iustitia]

How can they be less isolated than they are?

[Peter1469]

How can they be less isolated than they are?

By not giving them anything.

[donttread]

http://thehill.com/policy/international/228393-obama-sanctions-north-korea-over-sony-hack


Obama last month - Cuba shows us sanctions don't work.

Obama this month - North Korea shows us we need more sanctions.

Confusing this foreign policy stuff.


Humm , so here's a country sworn to hate our very existence but we're going to sanction them over going after a megacorp. Why am I not surprised?

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - dat's how to deal with Fatboy Kim... UN Further Tightens North Korea Sanctions Dec 01, 2016 | UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council voted Wednesday to further tighten sanctions on North Korea following months of diplomatic wrangling.
The U.N. Security Council voted Wednesday to further tighten sanctions on North Korea following months of diplomatic wrangling over how best to respond to North Korea's latest nuclear test in September and their repeated defiance of international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. The council unanimously approved the sanctions resolution with diplomats hailing it as a major step forward in its efforts to get the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its nuclear ambitions. "In March, this council passed what were then the toughest sanctions to date on the DPRK. But the DPRK remained as determined as ever to continue advancing its nuclear technology. The DPRK found ways to continue diverting revenue from exports to fund its research, it tried to cover up its business dealings abroad, and it looked for openings to smuggle illicit materials by land, sea, and air. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said following the vote. "Today's resolution systematically goes after each of these illicit schemes."
http://images05.military.com/media/global/newscred/ban-ki-moon-speaks-1500-01-dec-2016-ts600.jpeg U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters. The new sanctions target North Korea's hard currency revenues by placing a cap on coal exports, cutting them by at least 62 percent or by an estimated $800 million. The new sanctions further clarify that the "livelihood" exemption, which allowed the Chinese imports, is meant only to protect the livelihoods of those currently living inside North Korea, not Chinese people or companies doing business with the country. The sanctions also slap a ban on North Korea's exports of non-ferrous metals and sanction 11 government officials as well as 10 entities linked to the country's nuclear weapons program. The sanctions include a host of other measures cracking down on the country's access to the international banking system and on North Korea's export of statues, which have earned the country hard currency mostly through sales to African nations. The resolution also threatens, for the first time, to suspend some or all of North Korea's U.N. privileges if it does not comply. North Korea's main ally and largest trade partner, China hailed the sanctions as striking a balance between punishing the rogue nation and protecting its people. "The resolution adopted by the council today demonstrates the uniform stand of the international community against the development by DPRK of its nuclear missile programs and forward the maintenance of the international non-proliferation regime," China's Ambassador Liu Jieyi said, adding that the measures "are not intended to produce negative consequences on DPRK's humanitarian situation." MORE (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/12/01/un-further-tightens-north-korea-sanctions.html)

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - Obama needs to wipe dat smirky grin off Fatboy's face... :mad: Few Expect New UN Sanctions to Deter North Korea December 01, 2016 — U.S. allies in East Asia on Thursday welcomed the incrementally tougher sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council, but few in the region expect these new measures to deter the Kim Jong Un government.
Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe put out a statement of support for the new council resolution saying it, “reflects the international community’s intention to take tough measures that are in a completely different dimension from past ones.” The South Korean government urged North Korea to heed the international community’s warning to halt its nuclear program or face further consequences. “It will not only face more economic difficulties and diplomatic isolation, but it would also see its rights and privileges as a member of the U.N. suspended,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck. The South Korean government also announced it would impose additional unilateral sanctions as well.
http://gdb.voanews.com/197175E6-4DEA-4670-B5ED-67D31C31BD40_cx0_cy3_cw0_w250_r1_s_r1.jpg North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at parade participants at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. Fifth nuclear test The Security Council has imposed several rounds of increasingly harsh, targeted sanctions on North Korea since 2006. Diplomats said the measures have slowed North Korea’s march toward a nuclear weapon, but have so far failed to induce Pyongyang to abandon its atomic ambitions. This new round of economic sanctions, imposed against North Korea for its fifth nuclear test conducted September 9, was unanimously endorsed by the 15 members of the council that includes Pyongyang’s key allies China and Russia. The latest measures seek to further tighten past restrictions and include: * Caps on the country’s coal exports and expanding a mineral trade ban that could deprive the Kim government of an estimated $800 million a year in revenue. * Additional financial restrictions, requiring foreign banks to cease operations inside North Korea and mandating the expulsion of North Korean financial officials from outside countries. * Blacklisting 11 more North Korean officials and 10 more organizations suspected of involvement in the country’s nuclear program, conventional arms trade or coal sector. * Prohibitions on the sale of new vessels and helicopters to North Korea and requiring other U.N. members to deflag any North Korean vessels that are registered in their countries. Nuclear state (http://www.voanews.com/a/un-sanctions-north-korea/3618604.html)

[Tahuyaman]

Obama Authorized Economic Sanctions on North Korea
What a bold and courageous call.