{"id":182284,"date":"2017-09-21T03:25:27","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T21:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=182284"},"modified":"2017-09-26T23:58:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-26T18:28:16","slug":"looming-danger-of-a-nuclear-war-a-total-ban-is-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/looming-danger-of-a-nuclear-war-a-total-ban-is-necessary\/","title":{"rendered":"Looming Danger Of A Nuclear War: A Total Ban Is Necessary\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Laksiri Fernando<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dr. Laksiri Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cDonald Trump warns United State will \u2018Totally Destroy\u2019 North Korea if thretened<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 ABC\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

American President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s first address to the UN General Assembly is quite appalling for a leader of a democratic country. It is completely one sided to say the least. In his fifteenth sentence of the address, he has attacked the \u201c<\/span>Rogue regimes represented in this body <\/i>[UNGA] not only support terrorists, but threaten other nations and their own people with the most destructive weapons known to humanity<\/i>.\u201d He was perhaps pointing his finger to himself, when he was saying that. <\/span><\/p>\n

American Culpability <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Although not the main supporter, America has a reputation of supporting different types of terrorist groups in the Middle East and elsewhere. Therefore, the first part of the accusation is not at all a balanced statement, but showing his disrespect, anger and contempt to other nations, and members of the UN. Of course, in extreme cases, the UN can suspend or expel countries from the member status. However, the purpose of keeping them all together, whatever the differences, is to continue a dialogue and building some understanding in resolving contentious issues peacefully, avoiding armed confrontations or war. The war that threatens the world today is a nuclear one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If there is a failure in this dialogue, of course there is, the UN undoubtedly is responsible, but the blame should go squarely to all countries, and particularly to the big five of the Security Council, where America is a key member. Criticizing the past Presidents or administrations, as he usually does, is not an excuse for America from responsibility. The Security Council is unfortunately dominated by the West (America, Britain and France), and China is the only Asian country in it. India and Indonesia, with large populations, are not permanent members. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The second part of the statement is particularly aimed at North Korea, rightly so, when he says, these regimes \u201cthreaten other nations and their own people with the most destructive weapons known to humanity.\u201d However, what he must keep in mind is that it is the United States that first invented the atomic bomb and then dropped two of them in Hiroshima and Nagasaki without any justification when Japan was about to surrender. That is where all nuclear proliferation started.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is no question that what North Korea doing at present is dangerous gambling. However, it might be too late now to prevent that \u2018rogue regime\u2019 becoming a nuclear power. Through sanctions, it is too late to close the stable as the horse has bolted already. America or even Australia could blame China. However, what could China do to prevent North Korea becoming a nuclear power? It is a different country, although a close ally in the past. It is not clear how much influence she could exert on the present regime. China may have a different opinion on the matter, although she has agreed with the Security Council sanctions to prevail upon North Korea to stop continuous missile tests.\"\"<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Rocket Man!\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It is not exactly nuclear tests that North Korea has launched this year. It has launched six nuclear weapon tests so far since 2006, but only one this year, recently on 3 September. Two tests were conducted last year, even without much world notice or opposition. North Korea\u2019s nuclear ambition precedes well before Kim Jong-un period, who came to power only in 2011, after his father\u2019s death. However, he has tested 5 missile launches last year and 15 so far, this year, some consisting more than one weapon. That is why he has earned the name \u2018Rocket Man\u2019 from Donald Trump! Name calling is typical of Trump\u2019s leadership, often through his tweets. What North Korea attempting dangerously is to test long range ballistic missiles with nuclear war heads that can threaten America, Australia and other countries. It has that capability already to attack South Korea, Japan and China.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is no question about Kim Jong-un<\/a>\u2019s brutal character. He goes as the Supreme Leader following his father and grandfather. Three incidents are testimony to his nature, without referring to many others. After his ascendancy, he ordered the execution of his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, in 2013 on the pretext of treachery. He is also allegedly behind the killing of his half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, in Malaysia early this year. Again, it was this year that a visiting American student, Otto Warmbier, was arrested for a minor mischief and his prison treatment led finally to his death. Without his knowledge and approval, the whole tragedy could not have happened. <\/span><\/p>\n

Relating these incidents and brutality of the regime is necessary for a Sri Lankan audience, because still there are some political leaders in Sri Lanka who follow the legacy of Kim Il-sung, if not Kim Jong-un. They come particularly from the generation of 1960s, reading the Selected Works of Kim Il Sung in Sinhala. The Workers Party of North Korea or Marxism in its ideology is a complete misnomer. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, the \u2018Western\u2019 world and particularly America, are also responsible for North Korea\u2019s deformed situation. The division of Korea into North and South, arming South Korea against the North, and perpetuating North Korea\u2019s closed and isolated position are largely responsible for the present situation. What is unravelling today is a dangerous challenge of the American might by this \u2018rogue regime.\u2019 Japan is also embroiled in this situation, because of its dependence on America for defence and its unfortunate legacy as a colonial master over Korea. If North Korea is open and democratic, it might forgive Japan for its colonial past. However, it is not the case under the present circumstances. <\/span><\/p>\n

Historical past should not always be a guide for present policies or relations of any country. Unless the present generations forgive and forget the past, countries and people might be in perpetual conflict and war.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reports and news about the internal economic conditions in North Korea are also not completely correct. Most of the journalists in the \u2018Western\u2019 media are unfortunately prisoners of their own beliefs and values. This is the case mong many human rights activists. There is no question that Kim Jon-un and the ruling bureaucracy lives a luxurious life. However, the country cannot completely be an impoverished nation. Most of the pictures shown to depict poverty are the same, and most are allegedly of the \u2018convicted\u2019 people in \u2018open labour camps\u2019 and not the ordinary peasants. <\/span><\/p>\n

The conditions in these camps are of course despicable. They are however about the polity and not the economy. More reliable information say that North Korea has gained much economic momentum during the last decade, and unless this is the situation, the technological and scientific development capable of nuclear armament cannot proceed. However, if such resources for nuclear testing and armaments are diverted to the economy, the conditions of the people might be far better. This is the case in many countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Korea, as a whole, is a rich country. Before the division, North was prominent for agriculture and natural resources, while South being famous for industries and businesses. Therefore, the division was\/is an international crime. This is the situation which was perpetuated by the UN and super powers including America, the Soviet Union (now Russia) and even China. That is the situation that has given rise to the \u2018Rocket Man.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Twitter Man!<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cauthority and authoritarian powers\u201d that Trump talked about at the UN address equally apply to America and to him. As a ritual he has also referred to the noble goals on which the UN was founded 72 years ago; they being peace, sovereignty, security and prosperity. What he has forgotten or opted not to mention were cooperation and diplomacy. He has put forward a sectarian and a dangerous approach emphasizing \u201ca coalition of strong and independent nations.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no question about him talking about the \u2018greatness of America, its constitution, people or values,\u2019 as this was his maiden speech, and it was in the American soil. However, it was not polite for him to threaten other nations and countries on that basis. It was at this world forum that he bluntly said, \u201c<\/span>As long as I hold this office, I will defend America’s interests above all else.\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

His speech was belligerent, as if speaking at a \u2018war council.\u2019 Of course, he mentioned about the allies, whoever they are. He said, \u201cAmerica’s devotion is measured on the battlefields where our young men and women have fought and sacrificed alongside our allies, from the beaches of Europe, to the deserts of the Middle East, to the jungles of Asia.\u201d<\/i> It was a war speech and not a peace one. There was some reason for his anger, because of similarly belligerent announcements by Kim Jong-un, the other \u2018Mad Man,\u2019 in the opposite continent. Trump directly and indirectly attacked Russia and China when he said, \u201cWe must reject threats to sovereignty, from the Ukraine to the South China Sea<\/i>.\u201d These are matters that America should sort out in the Security Council and not at the General Assembly. <\/span><\/p>\n

He was seeking allies when he said, \u201c<\/span>We must work together and confront together those who threaten us with chaos, turmoil and terror.\u201d<\/i> He was not only referring to North Korea, however, when he said, \u201c<\/span>The scourge of our planet today is a small group of rogue regimes.\u201d <\/i>He was looking for \u2018Axis Powers,\u2019 when he was talking about \u2018group of rogue regimes.\u2019\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span> <\/i><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

His main target soon was on North Korea, saying the following. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea. It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans, and for the imprisonment, torture, killing and oppression of countless more.\u201d <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Contempt for other nations\u2019 also applies to America, if not equally, judging from its behaviour in the Korean war, Vietnam war and in the Middle East. Unless it is as a justification for pre-emptive action, there is no verifiable evidence about \u2018starvation and deaths of millions\u2019 in North Korea, as of now. Otherwise, at least thousands should have fled to China or South Korea. Exaggeration of any situation is dangerous, particularly when two countries or more are poised to attack each other, in this case with nuclear weapons. <\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from alleged American encirclement of China and East Asia, it is this type of war rhetoric that might give justification for North Korea to arm itself with nuclear weapons. \u2018The Coming War on China\u2019<\/i> is not Chinese or North Korean propaganda, but by an independent and reputed Australian born journalist John Pilger.<\/span><\/p>\n