More Sanctions Against North Korea
On Monday further sanctions were issued against North Korea, specifically against four North Korean individuals, three North Korean companies and five North Korean government agencies. The order was signed by President Obama, taking effect immediately.
North Korea set off a nuclear bomb in 2006, they have enough materials to make a half dozen more and they are run by a freaking loon. North Korea, unlike Iran, is very unpredictable but will respond - eventually - to sanctions. Especially when it comes to economic and social needs. They need other countries to feed their people, because the leadership rapes the country of everything from food to money and whatever they can get their greasy little hands on.
North Korea is a poor country, no matter the riches of the leadership. They constantly teeter on the edge of self destruction, but they aren't going to go down without causing some chaos in the region. Any nuclear weapons they might have can easily reach Japan, and they can drive one to South Korea if they were so inclined. That's why completely shutting them off might not work as well. So limited economic sanctions are the way to go.
In the end, it's pretty clear that sanctions don't mean a lick of shit when it comes to North Korea. One minute that's exactly what will shut them up, the next minute they are testing missiles, then begging for aid again. I think our best bet is just to arm South Korea to the teeth and let them take care of their northern problem.
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