From SpaceWar.com: US President Barack Obama said Saturday that North Korea’s nuclear weapon test had been “extraordinarily provocative” and that it would be “profoundly dangerous” for Iran to get a nuclear bomb.
Obama highlighted the separate policies being pursued against the two, with the United States seeking a tougher line on Stalinist North Korea while it has a new start to Iran’s hardline Islamic government.
Iran’s nuclear programme featured in talks between Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy who condemned what he called “senseless” new remarks by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad casting doubt on the Holocaust.
Obama was asked about the nuclear threat from the two states at a press conference after the meeting in the northern French city of Caen.
“North Korea’s actions over the last couple of months have been extraordinarily provocative,” he said.
“They have made no bones about the fact that they are testing nuclear weapons, testing missiles that would potentially have intercontinental capacity. And, in fact, we are not intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation,” he added.
Obama said the UN Security Council is working toward a new resolution on North Korea and he insisted that even China and Russia, the two major powers closest to the North, were taking a tougher approach. “They understand how destabilising North Korea’s actions are.”
“We are going to take a very hard look at how we move forward,” said the US leader. “I don’t think there will be an assumption that we will simply continue down the path in which North Korea is constantly destabilising the region” and can expect a “reward” in return.
The United States wants UN sanctions against North Korea but diplomats say there are differences between the key powers over proposals for tougher cargo inspections, a tighter arms embargo, a possible freeze on North Korean assets abroad and denial of access to the international financial services.
Obama said that letting Iran develop a nuclear bomb would be “profoundly dangerous” and would lead other Middle East states to say “we have to go for it as well.”
He stressed though that the United States was not taking the same attitude as toward North Korea.
“We are breaking significantly from past approaches. We are willing to have direct negotiations with the Iranians on a whole range of issues without preconditions in an atmosphere of mutual respect and resolve,” he said. Read the rest of the article on SpaceWar.com.
Commentary:
“We are not intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation” – What is that suppossed to mean?
“…and he insisted that even China and Russia, the two major powers closest to the North, were taking a tougher approach…” – Are they really? Would they? And if so, why?
“…letting Iran develop a nuclear bomb would be “profoundly dangerous” and would lead other Middle East states to say “we have to go for it as well” – Who let the US develop a nuclear bomb? Who ever drew up the rules on who rules who on this earth? And lead other Middle East states so say “we have to go for it as well” – Doesn’t Israel already have nuclear weapons?
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