Blix cautions on North Korean sanctions

The Security Council voted unanimously last week to impose sanctions against North Korea. But some analysts have questioned the wisdom behind the resolution and are asking if this is the best method to deal with the issue. One of the vocal critics is Sweden's Hans Blix, former chief weapons inspector in Iraq and now Chairman of the independent Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission. He tells Azariah Kiros that he sees the Security Council sanctions as understandable but hardly advisable.

North Korea usually responds in a very belligerent manor to any threats of sanctions. If they are pressed they escalate. If you were to have interception of North Korean Shops on the high seas, There could very well be a risk for shooting and then one doesn't know where it would end. I see these sanctions as an as an understandable reaction by countries that are frustrated by the North Korean attitudes and as a response to public opinion in certainly Japan and the united States- but the US and other countries have been following another line until now - not htat of waving sticks but providing carrots to the North Koreans.

So your argument is as far as the international community is concerned - a policy of confrontation with North Korea will not work?

There is a big risk in it. They have just adopted a resolution that is very harsh - although the contents of the sanctions is not very remarkable - they are economis and there are various reservations. I think it is unlikely when you see the pattern of behaviour from North Korea that they would accept this declaration - they are already talking about it as a declaration of war.

How likely is it that they will go ahead with a second test?

I don't think that it is at all unlikely. I mean if they have one nuclear device they probably have more becasue if the the first one had not have gone off they would likely have a reserve ready. I think it is quite possible that they will do that and it would be completely in style to do it. If they are subjected to harsh condemnation then it is very likely that they will do a second test.

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