Sino/Russia Peace Alliance v. US Rage for War

Sino/Russia Peace Alliance v. US Rage for War

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)

At an “emergency” Wednesday afternoon Security Council session on North Korea, called by Washington, responsible remarks by Russia and China were world’s apart from recklessly ominous US ones.

Russia’s UN deputy UN envoy Vladimir Safronkov minced no words, saying “(i)t It is of utmost importance for us, it is utterly clear for us, that any attempts to justify a military solution are inadmissible. They lead to unpredictable consequences for the region.”

“In the very same manner, attempts to economically strangle North Korea are equally unacceptable as millions of people are in great humanitarian need. The UN plays its role here. There must be a depolarization of humanitarian efforts.”

China’s remarks were similar, its UN envoy Liu Jieyi, saying his country “firmly oppose(s) chaos and conflict on the Korean peninsula. Military means must not be an option in this regard.”

Neocon US envoy Nikki Haley expressed polar opposite views. Demanding tough measures against Pyongyang, she recklessly challenged Russia and China, saying if they don’t act the way Washington wishes, “we will go our own path.”

She threatened war on North Korea and sanctions on “any country that does business with” its government.

Specifically referring to China, she said “(t)here are countries that are allowing, even encouraging, trade with North Korea.”

Ahead of submitting a tough Security Council resolution on the DPRK, aimed at strangling it economically, a policy Moscow and Beijing firmly reject, she threatened US sanctions and perhaps other measures against countries unwilling to support Washington’s agenda.

“(C)onsiderable (US) military forces” may be used if necessary, she blustered – outrageously claiming Pyongyang’s actions “close(d) off the possibility of a diplomatic solution.”

War on the Korean peninsula would be devastating, an unacceptable option, threatening the region if recklessly launched.

North Korea has thousands of underground national security facilities, the world’s fourth largest military, about 200,000 special forces, nukes and ballistic missiles, along with around 10,000 artillery pieces and mobile missiles able to strike all US regional military bases, along with Seoul and other South Korean targets.

Russia and China support outreach and dialogue with North Korea – diplomacy, not belligerence they categorically oppose.

They urge involvement by the international community to avoid catastrophic conflict on the Korean peninsula if launched.

The reject “provocative moves (and) bellicose rhetoric,” instead urge “calm along with “demonstrat(ing) readiness for dialogue without preconditions, (and willingness to) work actively together to defuse tension.”

They’re committed to denuclearizing the Korean peninsula through “dialogue and consultations.”

They called for a halt in provocative US/South Korean military exercises and removal of US THAAD anti-missile systems from South Korea – “inflict(ing) serious damage on strategic security interests of regional states, including Russia and China…”

They achieve nothing toward denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. They’re hugely provocative and destabilizing.

Reckless Trump administration policies risk unthinkable regional nuclear war. The possibility should terrify everyone.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.