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North Korea's Missile Tests: How Will the World React?

By Bridgette Quinn, Fox News

July 5, 2006

Transcript

Bridgette: Breaking now—the world is not taking the North Korean missile tests lightly at all. Sources are telling FOX that a resolution is expected to reach the U.N. and it will be quote, “more than a condemnation of the test launches.” What does this really mean though? The Chapter 7 resolution could open the way for possible military response. Joining us this morning former congressman from Indiana, Tim Roemer. Good to have you here Congressman. Let’s talk a little bit about what’s going on at the U.N. We just heard John Bolton say it’s very important to send a strong unanimous signal to North Korea. Is that likely to happen given the reluctance of China and Russia to get on board?

Tim Roemer: Well look Bridgette, it’s very important that the world sees this, not as only a threat to U.S. security but global security. We’ve seen this pattern of North Korean behavior; wheeling and dealing with A.Q. Kahn, completely ignoring agreements that they’ve cast forward in the past, and now launching seven missiles in a defiant and provocative way, threatening world and global security. I think it’s important, particularly in the U.N. to see what China does. China provides a great deal of North Korea’s energy and food aid. Let’s see how they vote; whether they’re going to be tough in this vote and whether they’re going to be helpful in six-party talks.

Bridgette: Right, and about China, it would seem that a couple weeks ago they went out on a limb, essentially by trying to encourage North Korea back to the table and telling them, do not go ahead with this test launch. North Korea went ahead and did it. I mean might we—might the U.S. have more success in getting what it wants at the U.N. because China might just be angry with the North Koreans for having gone ahead with the tests?

Tim Roemer: Well certainly Japan is angry. They have initiated this security resolution that may include economic sanctions and the possibility of military response, but we really need to see China and South Korea step up here.

Bridgette: And as we’re talking Congressman we’re just getting a bulletin crossing the wire that Japan, the U.S. and the U.K. have drafted already a U.N. resolution that would bar funds and technology from the North Korea missile program. Are any sort of economic sanctions likely to stop North Korea from pursuing this program?

Tim Roemer: Well they can help in the short-term as a stepping stone for the rest of the world to get behind tougher negotiations, reigniting the six-party talks, and keeping a military response on the table Bridgette. Remember, that we have troops in South Korea; that we have dominance in the seas there and also in our air force, dominance over the skies. I think the military backbone is provided by the United States to stand down any options for North Korea in the future. But it’s important for us to take this initial step in the U.N.; see how China and Russia react, and then reignite these six-party talks, and have China step forward.

Bridgette: One last quick one for you. Of course in ’94 President Clinton brokered this deal offering a carrot, hoping that a stick wouldn’t be necessary; hoping to get North Korea to give up its program. Obviously, it hasn’t. Can we ever trust them again?

Tim Roemer: Well certainly President Reagan talked about “trust but verify.” It’s not so important to go back to what President Clinton did but let’s look at the last five years. I think we’ve taken our eye off the ball. I think we have to work at the presidential and secretary of state level. It’s important that special envoy, Chris Hill, goes back there, but this really needs to be looked at from a global security perspective not just a United States perspective.

Bridgette: Tim Roemer, thank you very much. And just to reiterate, Japan, the U.S. and the U.K. have drafted a U.N. resolution that would bar funds and technology from North Korea’s missile program. The U.N. meeting in emergency session right now, much more to come out of that meeting throughout the day here at FOX.

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