By Matt Butler
Associate Editor
After yet another failed missile test, North Korea has once again further distanced itself from peaceful international relations by violating the United Nation Security Council’s resolution that forbids the country from launching ballistic missiles.
The missile launch took place last Friday evening despite warning from the United States, Russia and China. This action not only demonstrated the country’s lack of progress made in militaristic technology and weaponry development, but it also showed the world North Korea does not desire to cooperate with nations of the international community.
North Korea has been given too many chances to enact political, economic and social reforms, and it must be dealt with in an effective manner.
Representatives of the North Korean government claimed the rocket was carrying an Earth observation satellite onboard. However, many nations are condemning the country’s fourth failed launch since 1998. Some nations claim North Korea was testing its long-range missile capabilities, according to CBS News.
As a result, the United Nations has increased economic sanctions on the country. However, sanctions are not enough to bring about viable change to the increasing threat North Korea poses to the rest of the world if it produces a successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
For significant change to take place, military intervention from the international community and removal from the U.N. might be the only factors that put an end to North Korea’s charades.
In addition to sanctions, the United States suspended providing food aid to the North Koreans, according to an April 16 USA Today article. Approximately one out of three children in the country have permanently stunted growth as a result of malnutrition, according to the U.N. Because of this, North Korea recently lowered its minimum military height requirement to 4-foot, 9 April 3 because too many males didn’t meet the previous standard of 4-foot-9-and-three-quarter inches.
Why should a country that spends the majority of its funding on nuclear and missile technology development programs instead of feeding its citizens be allowed to be a member of the United Nations? North Korea has clearly violated intrinsic human civil liberties by preferring its citizens go hungry while the communist government regime continues to place top priority on the military.
Despite being a neighboring country, China has done little to keep North Korea in check. President Obama and the international community have yet to impose an effective plan to permanently bring about positive change in the impoverished communist state.
If North Korea’s government is not stopped, the United States leaves itself open for potential future attacks from not only North Korea, but Iran as well. It has been known that Iran and North Korea have been sharing information on nuclear weaponry for the last few years, according to a March 26 Los Angeles Times article. If both of these countries enter into a mutual alliance, a very deadly war would probably ensue, causing a great multitude of deaths in countries opposed to their plans, including the U.S.
Economic sanctions alone will not topple the regime itself. It will take swift and direct action from the international community to end the threat of the North Korean government and restore full liberties, democracy and healthy quality of life to its citizens. The health of a nation’s citizens should not be left on the back burner in favor of military development.
North Korea has to be stopped not only for the international threat it poses, but for the lives and wellness of its citizens. If the U.S. is truly a force for peace, we must go out and defend intrinsic human rights and values from the oppressive North Korean communist regime.
butlerjm10@bonaventure.edu
