Sanctions begun when North Korea threatens U.S. military

Nuclear outlaw North Korea is attracting more attention after it confronted a “physical response” to war games being played by the U.S. and South Korea this weekend. North Korean economy is expected to get worse as well considering the nuclear program North Korea has along with the fact that they sunk a South Korean warship.

'Grave threat’ used by North Korea to describe the U.S. games

This weekend, South Korea and also the U.S. have teamed up to do military exercises with about 8,000 people which caused the North Korean threats. CNN reports that North Korea spokesman Ri Tong Il called the military exercise “another example of a hostile policy” against North Korea. He went on to say that the war games are a grave threat to the Korean peninsula and also the entire Asian region. The military exercise, dubbed “Invincible Spirit,” is scheduled to run from July 25 to July 28.

Cheonan sinks – military does exercises

North Korea’s saber-rattling toward the U.S./South Korean military drills raised the level of tension that was already high in the region. The Cheonan sinking killed 46 soldiers which as outlined by the Associated Press happened four months before the new threat. North Korea is denying playing any part although an investigation shows otherwise. In the face of North Korea’s familiar belligerence, the U.S. seems to have run out of patience, saying any new talks with the North are unlikely within the current standoff.

North Korea sanctions target corrupt elites

On July, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled new sanctions designed to deny luxury goods to the country’s elites and cut off funding for North Korea’s nuclear program. The Guardian reports that new U.S. sanctions would target 200 North Korean-held foreign bank accounts thought to be connected with illegal activities like nuclear weapons development, drug trafficking and counterfeiting. Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are where there is expected to be a $4 billion slush fund hidden by Kim Jong-il reports the Chosun Ilbo.

Worried North Korean leaders

North Korean leaders are desperate so they continue to threaten the U.S. and South Korea. Voice of America reports that North Korea is already suffering from poor harvests, a manufacturing slump, U.S. sanctions and a reduction of international aid. Some are worried that a famine like the one within the 1960’s that killed thousands, might occur yet again in North Korea. If a famine were to occur, the North Korean government would probably put more restrictions down.

Additional details at these websites

CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/north.korea.threat/index.html?npt=NP1
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/north-korea-threatens-physical-response
Voice of America
voanews.com/english/news/Sanctions-Expected-to-Harm-North-Korean-Economy-99090344.html?refresh=1