The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has pledged to intensify its anti-imperialist struggle and to reinforce its defences after the UN Security Council (UNSC) strengthened sanctions against the country.
UNSC Resolution 2087 was unanimously adopted on 22 January, more than a month after the DPRK succeeded in launching a satellite into orbit. The coucil claimed that the launch violated a ban on the DPRK using ballistic missile technology that it has sought to impose on the country after it conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Immediately following the launch, the US and south Korea were joined by Japan, Britain and other imperialist powers in vociferously demanding the imposition of harsh new sanctions.
China initially took the position that a formal resolution was not needed and then, during the following negotiations, successfully resisted the imposition of fresh sanctions on Pyongyang, which it claimed would impede “normal trade” between the DPRK and other states and affect people’s livelihood. As a result, the resolution serves only to tighten existing sanctions.
The DPRK has sharply rejected the resolution stating: “The hostile forces are seriously mistaken if they think they can bring down the DPRK with sanctions and pressure, and such an attempt will always bring them a disgraceful defeat.”
The foreign ministry declared that the DPRK would continue with its satellite and space programme, adding that the country had drawn “a final conclusion that denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is impossible unless the denuclearisation of the world is realised, as it has become clear now that the US policy hostile to the DPRK remains unchanged …
“There can be talks for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region in the future, but no talks for the denuclearisation of the peninsula.”
Further, “the DPRK will take steps … to bolster its military capabilities for self-defence, including nuclear deterrence, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to cope with the ever-more undisguised moves of the US”.
On 24 January, a statement was issued by the National Defence Commission (NDC), the highest body of state power in the DPRK, declaring: “Settling accounts with the US needs to be done with force, not with words, as it regards jungle law as the rule of its survival.”
The CPGB-ML fully supports the right of the DPRK to develop satellite technology, and thoroughly condemns this latest bullying resolution of the UNSC. Why should the DPRK be refused the right to develop the technology of the modern age for the benefit of its people?
Indeed, the DPRK is perfectly entitled to develop even missile technology and nuclear weapons if it wishes to do so to promote its own self-defence, bearing in mind that it is constantly under threat from imperialist powers, which ceaselessly vilify its government, conduct aggressive military and naval exercises on its borders, falsely accuse it of committing unprovoked acts of aggression and work tirelessly against the peaceful reunification of Korea in order to maintain south Korea as a base in the region.
The DPRK has, with its unfailing courage and determination, pledged not to submit to the UNSC bullying. This bullying will never achieve anything other than to shower shame on the United Nations as an organisation.
