DISPATCHES FROM STEPHEN LENDMAN
PART ONE
Western Double Standards on North Korea
North Korean military related activities are solely for self-defense – given longstanding US-led Western hostility and forced isolation. Provocative US-led NATO military activities are far more extensive and menacing, preparing for premeditated wars alliance members frequently wage.
Throughout its history, North Korea never attacked another nation. It threatens none now. It remains justifiably concerned since Harry Truman launched naked aggression in June 1950.
A shaky, unprecedented in length, July 1953 armistice excluded a peace treaty. A state of war persists. Washington misportrays North Korea as a belligerent threat.
Any military related activity it undertakes is automatically called hostile, irresponsibly considered a threat to neighboring countries and America – despite no evidence proving it.
Longstanding US-led Western hypocrisy is notorious. Do what we say, not what we do is official policy. Pyongyang seeks normalized relations with all nations.
Washington wants its government used as a punching bag, a convenient enemy the way it treats all independent nations.
On Sunday, Pyongyang announced the successful launching of a long-range rocket, deploying a Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite (named after the late Kim Jong Il) into space, orbiting the earth every 94 minutes.
At the request of Washington, Japan and South Korea, an emergency Security Council session will be held later on Sunday, discussing a nonexistent threat, solely to beat up on Pyongyang like always.
Banning its use of ballistic missile technology is wholly unjustified. Western and regional nations feature it. North Korea’s rights are no less than theirs.
Instead, its victimized by consistent US-led bashing. John Kerry duplicitously responded to Sunday’s launch as expected.
He lied, calling it “major provocation,” absurdly claiming it threaten(s) not only the security of the Korean peninsula, but that of the region and the United States as well.”
Pentagon officials confirmed the launch posed no threat to North America. Pyongyang justifiably said it’s “legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes.”
It intends launching more satellites, what Western and many other nations do routinely, no criticisms heard about their activities, only against independent nations like North Korea – bashed for doing the same thing, with no evidence suggesting its space program threatens any nation.
Security Council resolutions unjustifiably prohibit Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology. No such ban exists against Western and numerous other countries – a notorious double standard.
Sunday’s launch was North Korea’s sixth. Last month, it announced its fourth underground nuclear test, claiming it successfully detonated a small thermonuclear bomb, whether true or not isn’t clear.
US-imposed sanctions on North Korea are longstanding. Congress is moving to impose new ones, including against Chinese companies doing business with Pyongyang, intensifying Washington/Beijing tensions.
Expect more international sanctions to follow. Washington and its Asian allies want tougher ones imposed – deepening longstanding US-led anti-North Korean hostility.
It bears repeating. Anything military related or technologically sophisticated Western nations and their allies undertake is OK.
North Korea doing some of the same things is irresponsibly called hostile and threatening. The double standard is glaring.
PART TWO
Pressured by Washington, four anti-North Korea Security Council resolutions were adopted since 2006. The first two came after Pyongyang’s 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests, the third in 2012 after it successfully launched a satellite. Previous resolutions prohibited space launches, on the phony pretext of claiming the technology has potential dual use ballistic missile development applications.In February 2013, the fourth resolution was adopted after another North Korean nuclear test. All resolutions were unanimously approved under Chapter VII, Article 41 of the UN Charter, authorizing SC measures not involving use of armed force, including economic and political sanctions.
They called for Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear program “in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner” and refrain from ballistic missile tests.
A fifth SC resolution looms following an emergency Sunday meeting, its text to be determined in the coming days or weeks. Earlier ones didn’t deter Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. All resolutions were adopted for political, not security reasons.
Western nations, Israel and others have nuclear and ballistic missile programs – free from Security Council sanctions. Why North Korea and not them?
A previous article explained Pyongyang was victimized by US 1950s aggression. It justifiably fears a possible repeat. It never attacked another country throughout its history. It threatens none now. Claims otherwise reflect US-led Western propaganda – hostility solely for political reasons. Washington needs enemies to justify its out-of-control military spending and imperial project.
When none exist, they’re invented. For decades, North Korea sought rapprochement with the West. Washington continues to block it.
Longstanding US hostility gives Pyongyang just cause to feel threatened. Its military related activities are pursued for self-defense.
Without them, it’s vulnerable to more US-led naked aggression. The UN Charter and other international law recognize the right of self-defense – in response to an armed attack and in preparation trying to prevent one.
Yet North Korea is targeted for pursuing its legitimate rights, a nation wanting peace, stability and mutual cooperation with all nations.
US-led NATO members, Israel and their rogue allies threaten world peace. What actions have Security Council members and the UN secretary-general taken to address an issue too grave to ignore?
America wages endless wars of aggression against one invented enemy after another, raping and pillaging countries, stealing their resources, slaughtering millions, exploiting people globally, threatening world peace.
The UN and its member states turn a blind eye to its high crimes, giving US regimes carte blanche to wage war on humanity with impunity.
Why haven’t Washington’s weapons of mass destruction been sanctioned? Why not other NATO states and Israel?
Why are they allowed to operate solely by their own rules, consistently violating fundamental international laws?
Why is non-threatening North Korea and other independent states alone targeted by international sanctions?
Do as we say, not as we do represents longstanding US-led Western policy. Unacceptable double standards reflect it.
STEPHEN LENDMAN lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." ( http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html ) Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
