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U.N. Security Council Unanimously Adopts Sanctions Resolution Against North Korea, President Bush Dedicates Air Force Memorial
Aired October 14, 2006 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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WANG GUANGYA, CHINESE AMB. TO U.N. (through translator): All the parties should make vigorous and positive efforts for this end. China is ready and willing to strengthen consultations and coordination with other parties concerned so as to respond in a (INAUDIBLE) manner, push forward the six-party process, and continue to play a constructive role in realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia.
Thank you, Mr. President.
KENZO OSHIMA, JAPANESE AMB. TO U.N.: I thank the representative of China for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.
SIR EMYR JONES-PARRY, BRITISH AMB. TO U.N.: Thank you, Mr. President.
The United Kingdom welcomes the strong signal this unanimous council resolution sends to the government of the DPRK. The Security Council has acted decisively and quickly under Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter to the provocative and irresponsible acts of the regime. This resolution underlines powerfully to the DPRK the importance of this issue and reiterates the international community's condemnation at their actions.
The requirements of this resolution are clear. The DPRK and all states concerned have a legal obligation to comply with its provisions.
The United Kingdom has made clear its condemnation of nuclear tests on 9 October. This was an irresponsible act by the government of the DPRK, which raised tensions regionally and internationally.
The DPRK carried out this test despite the repeated urgings of its neighbors and the wider international community. The test contravened the DPRK's commitments under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and ignored our own Security Council resolution, 1695.
Against this background, Mr. President, the tests cannot be seen as anything other than a direct provocation to the international community. It is a threat to international peace and security, and the council had a duty to condemn this behavior. It was important, therefore, that the international community send a strong message to Pyongyang. It has done so in robust terms. But let me stress, the resolution is targeted at stopping the weapons of mass destruction and missile programs and changing the behavior of those in authority in Pyongyang. It is not the aimed at the people of North Korea, who are already suffering greatly.
We now expect the DPRK to comply with the resolution and return to the six-party talks. If it does, and complies fully with its provisions, and if the talks resume successfully, the United Kingdom would expect the council to lift the measures imposed today. But the choice is for North Korea to accept the wishes of the international community or to flout international law and the obligations we are imposing today.
Thank you.
OSHIMA: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for his statement.
I now call on the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.
VITALY CHURKIN, RUSSIAN AMB. TO U.N. (through translator): Thank you, Mr. President.
Even before the DPRK's statements on their intention to conduct a nuclear experiment, and immediately after the stated implementation of this irresponsible and destabilizing step, the Russian Federation emphasized that any actions, whatever it might be the reasons behind them, could complicate the prospects for a settlement of the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, which is fraught with the threats of peace, security and stability in the region, and which undermines the nonproliferation regime.
Based on this understanding, we have consistently called for a strong reply, but at the same time one that is carefully vetted and targeted for a prevention of the further escalation of tension on the part of the Security Council to this serious challenge to the entire international community. We can only regret the fact that the North Korean leadership has ignored the warnings that were contained in the document adopted on the 6th of October, 2005, the official presidential statement of the Security Council on the deleterious consequences which would inevitably flow from a nuclear test, and in particular for DPRK itself.
We are all in an extraordinary situation. And this situation has required the adoption of just as extraordinary measures.
In supporting today's resolution unanimously, which was agreed to as the result of tense negotiations with the constructive participation of all members of the council, we wanted to note the following. The resolution reflects the concern with the humanitarian consequences which are in these strict measures.
In principle, it is extremely important that this be taken into account by the relevant decisions of the U.N. that we carefully weigh the consequences on a case-by-case basis. In reacting this way to this emergency situation, we corroborate our position and principle that any sanctions measured that are introduced by the Security Council should not indefinitely go on and should be lifted if the council's demands are met.
We believe it necessary to emphasize that this type of decision involving this type of problem in -- when -- during the Security Council's work on joint approaches, where all interested parties are brought in, sanctions measures and practice when they're taken by individual states unilaterally do not help. Today's resolution contains a carefully studied and a targeted set of measures to deal with the main problem, which is to bring DPRK to review its dangerous course immediately in a nuclear area, to come back into the nonproliferation treaty, and without precondition to say that they're ready to participate in the six-party talks.
Achieving this goal which directly flows from the resolution can be done only through political and diplomatic means. These measures taken against the DPRK must be implemented under the strict and objective control of the Security Council and its sanctions committee established by this resolution.
It is extremely important that as it follows from the resolution, full implementation by DPRK of its provisions, including resumption of the six-party talks, would lead to the Security Council's lifting the sanctions by their decision. We hope that in Pyongyang they will understand the collective position of the international community reflected in this resolution we've adopted and that they will take practical steps aimed at achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, strengthening peace and stability in northeast Asia.
Russia will continue to do everything it can to achieve these goals.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
OSHIMA: We thank the representative of the Russian Federation.
Next on my list of speakers is the representative of Argentina, to whom I give the floor.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in Atlanta, in the NEWSROOM.
You've been listening to the U.S., China, the U.K., and Russian ambassadors to the U.N., all who are among the 15 council members who voted unanimously to impose sanctions against North Korea because of its recent nuclear tests.
You're looking at live pictures right now. Our Richard Roth is there.
Richard, what are the sanctions? RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: You're looking at Argentina's ambassador speaking.
These sanctions are now voted for by a unanimous Security Council after some days of last-minute haggling. They are sanctions that are designed to cut into the proliferation and growth of the North Korean nuclear industry, missile industry. It's targeted at supplying North Korea with any goods for that purpose.
It's calling on countries as necessary to stop and inspect goods that might be going to North Korea, a ban on tanks, anti-artillery procedures and aircraft, a whole range of technology and materials. But, of course, countries will have to offer to do this.
The British ambassador says this is U.N. exhortation to the world to stop North Korea from getting anything that could possibly be used for a nuclear bomb.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said to North Korea broke its word when it went back and started testing a nuclear device, that the Security Council warned North Korea not to do anything in that area in July. The U.S. is very pleased that 14 countries are on board.
China and Russia in the end went along, though Russia still is concerned -- and China, too -- about the impact on the people of North Korea, though the British ambassador said this is aimed totally, this resolution, at the leadership of North Korea, not the millions who are starving in North Korea -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And so the tricky part here, though, Richard, is it would really call on the cooperation from these countries. This is not law, so how do you enforce it.
ROTH: That is, as usual, a big U.N. issue in question. The United Nations Security Council will set up a Security Council sanctions committee.
We've seen hundreds of them, from Iraq to other issues. And it's going to be their job to come up with lists to tell the countries, this is what we're looking for, this is what you have to try to stop -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. And thank you very much, Richard.
And U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton had this to say just a moment ago...
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JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMB. TO U.N.: Mr. President, three months ago the United States counseled the members of this body to be prepared for further action in the event that North Korea failed to make the strategic decision to give up its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and comply with Resolution 1695. We are pleased that the Security Council is united in condemning the actions by the regime and Pyongyang and taking clear, firm and punitive action in passing this resolution, thus proving to North Korea and others that the Security Council is prepared to meet threats to international security with swift resolve.
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WHITFIELD: All right. You heard John Bolton say it, he's pleased that the Security Council is united.
What's the reaction from the White House?
Let's go now to Kathleen Koch -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, no reaction yet from the White House, but certainly it is very clear that the administration will take -- certainly they're very encouraged by it and will take a lot of comfort in these strong words by so many members of the Security Council, roundly condemning, unanimously condemning the action that North Korea took last Sunday.
The U.S. was already very confident of this outcome because it had already planned that trip by Condoleezza Rice, who is leaving for the region on Tuesday for a six-day trip to Japan, China, South Korea to talk to them about how they will implement the measures in this resolution. Tough talk from President Bush today, basically making clear that these sanctions are a starting point, that the U.S. wants to really try as much as possible the diplomatic angle, pursue a diplomatic solution. But the president did insist that all options remain on the table.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As we pursue a diplomatic solution, we are also reassuring our allies the region that America remains committed to their security. We have strong defense alliances with Japan and South Korea. And the United States will meet these commitments. And in response to North Korea's provocation, we will seek to increase our defense cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defense to protect against North Korean aggression, and cooperation to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technologies.
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KOCH: The office of the director of National Intelligence in a draft statement does say that the U.S. has found some evidence of radioactivity in the region where North Korea apparently conducted its test last Sunday. There had been some concern that the lack of specificity, lack of any definitive ruling on this, might discourage the Security Council, all of its members from going forward. But apparently it did not.
Back to you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Kathleen Koch from the White House.
Thanks so much. On the right hand of your screen you're seeing the ambassador for Japan to the U.N. speaking. We want to listen in right now.
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OSHIMA.: ... to go forward with the test. Only two days after the call from the Security Council, however, the DPRK claimed that it had conducted a nuclear test. The combination of ballistic missile capability and now the claim of nuclear capability in the hands of a regime with a known and proven record of reckless and irresponsible acts and behavior, including as a proliferator, creates a situation which is nothing less than a grave threat to peace and security.
Japan also regrets that the DPRK's actions are in contravention of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang declaration, trying to set (ph) statement of the six-party talks and several other agreements to which the DPRK has committed itself. Japan expects, along with other concerned countries in the region and beyond, that the DPRK will act as a responsible member of the United Nations by implementing this and other relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions, including Resolution 1695, in good faith and sincerely addressing the voices of concern raised by the international community.
At the same time, it is important to note that the security issue is not the only point of contention between the DPRK and the international community. This resolution underlines the importance of the DPRK to respond to humanitarian concerns of the international community, which naturally includes the (INAUDIBLE) issue. We demand the DPRK to resolve this issue as early as possible.
Prior to the adoption of this resolution, on October 11, 2006 my government announced that it will take a set of national measures in a strong protest against a claimed nuclear test, recognizing the need to take firm measures in response -- in response to such an action. These measure included, A, denial of permission to enter Japanese ports to all DPRK vessels; B, denial of import of all items from the DPRK; and C, denial in principle of entry by DPRK nationals into Japanese territory.
Japan will also implement in good faith the measures which the member states obliged to take under this resolution. We urge other member states to swiftly implement the resolution's provisions as well.
This resolution contains strong measures, but sanctions are not involved for the sanction -- for the sake of sanctions. The goal of this resolution is to remove the threat to international peace and security by ensuring that this continuation of the DPRK's nuclear testing and ballistic missile launchings, as well as the abandonment of its nuclear and missile programs. It is up to the DPRK whether this opportunity will be seized and utilized.
Japan wishes to stress that the DPRK's compliance with this resolution and addressing the concerns of the international community will open the way for the Security Council to consider actions for the benefits of the DPRK as made clear in paragraph 15 of the resolution. Japan has not closed the door on dialogue and urges the DPRK to respond sincerely for a diplomatic solution to these issues standing between the two countries.
Thank you for your attention.
I resume my function as president of the council.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
PAK GIL YON, NORTH KOREAN AMB. TO U.N.: Mr. President, the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea totally rejects the unjustifiable resolution 17, 18, 2006 adopted by the Security Council just now. It is gangster-like for the Security Council to have adopted today a coercive resolution while neglecting the nuclear threat and moves for sanctions and pressure of the United States against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
This clearly testifies that the Security Council has completely lost its impartiality and still persists in applying a double standard in its work. The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea expresses its disappointment over the fact that the Security Council finds itself incapable of saying even a word of concern to the United States, which threatens the DPRK with nuclear preemptive attack and aggravates tension by reinforcing armed forces and conducting larger-scale joint military exercises nearby the Korean Peninsula.
As was already declared, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9th as a new measure for bolstering its war deterrent for self-defense. The DPRK's nuclear test was entirely attributable to the United States nuclear threat, sanctions and pressure.
The DPRK has exerted every possible effort to settle their nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations, prompted by its sincere desire to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Bush administration, however, responded to the DPRK's patient and sincere effort and magnanimity with a policy of sanctions and blockade.
The DPRK was compelled to substantially prove its position of nukes to protect its sovereignty and a right to existence from the daily increasing danger of war from the United States. Although the DPRK conducted the nuclear test due to the United States, it still remains unchanged in its will to denuclearize the peninsula through dialogue and negotiations.
A denuclearization of the entire peninsula was (INAUDIBLE) since last instruction and an ultimate call of the Democratic People's Republican of Korea. The DPRK's nuclear test does not contradict the September 19th (ph) joint statement under which it committed itself to dismantle the nuclear weapons and addendum its existing nuclear program.
On the country, it constitutes a positive measure for its implementation. The DPRK clarified more than once that it would feel no need to possess even a single nuke when it is no longer exposed to the United States' threat after it has dropped its hostile policy towards the DPRK and confidence has been built between the two countries.
The United States has sought to impose collective sanctions upon the DPRK by manipulating the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution pressurizing Pyongyang. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is ready for pause, dialogue and confrontation. If the United States increases pressure upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea persistently, the DPRK will continue to take physical countermeasures, considering it as a declaration of war.
OSHIMA: I thank the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. President.
Last Monday, on 9th October, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced that it conducted a nuclear test. Pyongyang did it in complete disregard of the repeated warnings from my government and the international community. Deception taken by North Korea poses a grave threat, undermining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
North Korea also failed the whole international community to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue. North Korea's conduct constitutes a failure to meet these obligations under the 9th of September 2005 joint declaration on which all parties of the six-party talks concurred.
North Korea's conduct is an outright defiance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695, adopted on 15th July this year. Further, DPRK's action constitutes unacceptable breach of the joint declaration of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula...
PAK: ... and it moves for sanctions and pressure of the United States against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This clearly testifies that the Security Council has completely lost its impartiality and still persists in applying double standard in its work.
If the United States increase pressure upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea persistently, the DPRK will continue to take physical countermeasures, considering it as a declaration of war.
Thank you, Gentlemen.
QUESTION: Ambassador, please tell us what North Korea wants.
WHITFIELD: Strong statements being reiterated now by the North Korean ambassador to the U.N., Pak Gil Yon, after the 15-member Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions against North Korea.
Let's listen now again to the South Korean ambassador to the U.N.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... working in close cooperation with international community, my government will continue its endeavor to achieve these goals.
Thank you, Mr. President.
OSHIMA: I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for his statement.
The representative of the United States has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor.
BOLTON: Thank you very much, Mr. President.
I'm not going to waste any of our time responding to what the representative of the DPRK has said. But I want to call your attention to that empty chair.
That is the second time in three months that the representative of the DPRK, having asked to participate in our meetings, has rejected a unanimous resolution of the Security Council and walked out of this chamber. It is the contemporary equivalent of Nikita Krushchev pounding his shoe on the desk of the General Assembly. And that empty chair raises questions about the DPRK's adherence to article -- to Chapter 2 of the U.N. charter, which I think we need to consider in due course.
Thank you, Mr. President.
OSHIMA: I thank the representative of the United States.
WHITFIELD: All right. A stern rebuke of the North Korean ambassador there coming from the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton.
North Korea making some very strong statements, calling this resolution in the form of gangster-like activity from the U.N.
Let's listen in.
OSHIMA: Thank you very much for that statement.
There are no more speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the items on its agenda.
The Security Council will remain (INAUDIBLE) of the matter and the meeting is adjourned.
WHITFIELD: All right. An adjournment there after the 15-member Security Council there at the U.N. votes to impose sanctions against North Korea because of its reported latest nuclear test.
Joining us now is a securities international expert, Joseph Cirincione.
And Joe, we heard some very strong language from the North Korean ambassador, Pak Gil Yon. In particular, he says the adoption of this resolution was "gangster-like". He says the U.N. Council has lost its impartiality and says that the reason why they carried out these tests, because they have the right to protect itself, the right to protect its sovereignty, and the right to exist.
How much of that is right?
JOSEPH CIRINCIONE, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Well, this is the kind of statement you would expect from the north. They are not pleased to see what has happened in the last week.
You have to give a lot of credit to all the members of the Security Council. I think Ambassador Bolton has handled this pretty well. He overreached a little there, making a very effective gesture, pointing out the empty chair, but that in so doing ended up insulting the Russians, who had to object.
But the whole purpose of this last week's exercises have been to unify the international community against the North Korean test. They have done that first in a resolution condemning it, and now in sanctions resolution. They did in an orderly and very quick manner.
DPRK, the North Koreans, are obviously feeling the pressure. They're bristling, they're responding back. I wouldn't expect anything else from them.
I was actually encouraged by the comments I heard of most of the members, and even a hint from the North Koreans that they were open to talks, that the resolution of this crisis has got to be found back at the negotiating table. Even Ambassador Bolton said that himself. That's the way to go.
WHITFIELD: And so you say this vote really does underscore a united front by the U.N., but for a moment it was China and Russia who kind of held back, saying, wait a minute, let's work on a little bit of language here.
How significant, how important is it that China and Russia, particularly since China supplied so much to North Korea, that they came around?
CIRINCIONE: This is the first time that China and Russia have agreed to sanctions resolutions against the North Koreans. So it's very important. And it's fine that you had to sort of back off the very strong position that the United States originally tabled/
What you want is the unity. What you want is the agreement in principle on this. And remember, there's still a lot of mistrust about -- over the U.S. at the United Nations. They remember what happened during the Iraq war. They -- they got burned. They felt that the U.S. used the U.N. diplomatic process as a staging area for military action. They wanted to make sure that's not what was go on today. I think the resolution they ended up with strikes the right balance, strikes the right compromise.
WHITFIELD: So let's break down how this resolution would work. It means that the -- that many countries, all countries, would have to come in agreement and enforce this agreement, which is don't allow any containers, any supplies going in and out of North Korea to enter these other countries. How do you police that when this is not law, it's really an issue of cooperation?
CIRINCIONE: Well, these are limited sanctions. It is aimed ...
WHITFIELD: Hold on for one minute. We want to listen now to the Japanese ambassador to the u.n.
KENZO OSHIMA, JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: ... of great concern to the entire international community, that of nonproliferation. The council worked very hard since Monday when we heard the announcement of a nuclear test in order to arrive at a response that is strong in its message and act swiftly and in unity in the council.
I think that objective has been achieved today by the adoption of this resolution. We hope everyone in the council, and indeed in the international community, strongly hope that this will be complied, first of all, by the DPRK government to whom measures contained in the resolutions are directed, but also all members of this organization to comply and implement the provisions contained in it in order to tackle this very serious issue of nonproliferation.
It has been said many, many times that the action of the DPRK poses a serious challenge to the nonproliferation. That is an action that is considered a clear threat to peace and security in East Asia and beyond, so this is something that is of quite considerable consequence and the action today, I think, is a very, very important one. Thank you very much.
WHITFIELD: All right, Joseph Cirincione, still with us, securities and international policies expert. Talk to -- oh, one more time. Let's listen back to the Japanese ambassador. Sorry about that.
OSHIMA: Not totally unexpected. We regret it. The representative of the DPRK had already shown in July when resolution 165 was adopted. It is a kind of reaction, the behavior that we are talking about in this resolution and the kind of behavior and attitude that led to the action that council members felt it necessary to take.
QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, if you are not surprised by their behavior and China made clear that they're not going to move onto the inspections with regard to this resolution, what do you really hope to achieve by this today? Because it seems the past is pro, that you will be back here again. OSHIMA: Well, I think the measures contained in the resolution incorporate some important measures. Member states, of course, are required to implement them according to the terms of the resolution.
The resolution is a product of very intensive consultations in the council trying to find a common ground among different interests. I think we have been able to achieve that. It is now up to member states to start implementing them. Yes, one more.
QUESTION: The United States flattened North Korea in the 1950s and nearly nuked them, and it appears that North Korea often reacts toward what it feels are threats from the United States. They talked about that today. Why doesn't -- what about North Korea's saying that the Security Council should be concerned for the -- about the threats that the United States makes?
OSHIMA: Well, I would not, as president of the council, not want to go into those discussions. Thank you very much.
WHITFIELD: All right, now I think he's done. Japanese Ambassador to the U.N.
All right, Joseph Cirincione, back with us, securities and international policies expert. How important is it that Japan play the kind of role that it did, given that it, among five other permanent members, originally agreed on this resolution. Does Japan speak in part or as a whole for East Asia on this issue?
CIRINCIONE: Well, Japan feels the most threatened by North Korea. North Korean missiles can reach Japan. They can't reach the United States, but they do reach Japan. The fear is that North Korea could put a nuclear warhead on one of those missiles and that has alarmed both the Japanese government and the Japanese public.
The most interesting figure in all of this, however, is China. You know, many in the United States want China why to take care of this problem for us. They want China to turn the oil off for North Korea. China is never going to do that. They don't want to see a nuclear North Korea, but they ...
WHITFIELD: So what is China really promising when it votes in favor of a resolution like this then?
CIRINCIONE: They are promising to put pressure on North Korea not enough to cause the collapse of that state, but to pressure them. And you have to -- the point of all of this ...
WHITFIELD: But isn't that of economic pressure, you know, constitute the kind of pressure it would take to get North Korea to cooperate?
CIRINCIONE: Yes. It is. The Chinese are trying to calibrate this, pressure them enough to get them back to the negotiating table but not too much to -- so that it causes a collapse of the government. The Chinese are very unhappy here. They're starting to step up, playing a more diplomatic or greater diplomatic role in the region. It is actually going to be very interesting to watch how Japan plays this over the next couple of weeks. They could be exactly the mediator we need to get both North Korea and the United States back to the negotiating table.
WHITFIELD: All right. So this resolution in part to keep North Korea from supplying weapons or materials to other countries like Iran, for example, like I was asking you a bit earlier, it really does take the cooperation of all countries. This is not law. It really is asking that everyone cooperate with this resolution. How realistic is it?
CIRINCIONE: As the Japanese ambassador just pointed out, it requires all the nations in the United Nations to adhere to this resolution. That's the power the Security Council actually has.
And, remember, North Korea is a very small, very poor country. There is not a lot of trade that goes on. We're able to track each shift in and out. Most of their trade goes to China, South Korea and Japan, so we have got their cooperation completely.
This resolution also empowers limited military interdiction of ships so we can stop the ships if we're suspicious. I don't want to get carried away with this. None of these actions are going to force North Korea to capitulate, but it does bring pressure on them, it does restrict the financial resources available.
WHITFIELD: And that, in fact, was my next question because while North Korea may say, OK, now this resolution means we're not going to get cooperation of anybody to do any kind of trading, but we're going to continue to do our nuclear tests or whatever else. So how dangerous is that potential scenario?
CIRINCIONE: I would be worried about that. The North Koreans may ...
WHITFIELD: What do you do about it? What can be done? Nothing.
CIRINCIONE: There is nothing you can do to stop them from testing again. That's the thing I'm most worried about, that they'll fell that they have to sort of prove their manhood and continue with a series of tests. And if they were serious about weaponizing this device, they would need three, four more tests both to validate the design and to shrink it down to the size they need to put on a missile.
WHITFIELD: All right, Joseph Cirincione, thank you so much.
CIRINCIONE: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: We know you're going stick around, thankfully, for us. We're going to talk to you in a bit. Now we want to go to the Chinese ambassador to the U.N.
WANG GUANGYA, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: We want a firm message from the Security Council, but also a balanced and constructive message. I believe that the resolution represents this. So I think that now the resolution has been adopted, what is more important, I think, that all sides have to exercise restraint.
No more provocation. And also the important thing is that in the face of such crises, I think it is all the more important for the international community to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to find a solution for the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
QUESTION: China, though, does want some sort of -- they went along with some sort of inspection of cargo. How, though -- China is not going to participate. So how is it possible for this to be an effective measure?
GUANGYA: I think that for China, our political position is we are not in favor of inspections because for a number of years -- as a general principle, we feel that it will lead to negative consequences. So I do hope that with the watered down language in the resolution itself that this has to be exercised with great care.
WHITFIELD: Mr. Ambassador, you declared your reservation on the inspections. As you understand it, the inspections would be carried out as necessary. As you understand it, who determines what is necessary?
GUANGYA: I think that for those countries who wish to exercise this have to be -- exercised with great care, because I think that my concern is that politically speaking we have difficulty with this PSI idea. But in practical terms, that it could easily lead to conflict. So therefore we want it to be specially targeted and also have to be exercised in accordance with international law and with great care. Thank you.
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WHITFIELD: All right. The Chinese ambassador to the U.N. there, reacting to not only North Korea's ambassador's comments, but to the resolution voted upon unanimously by the 15 member Security Council.
Joe Cirincione on, he's still with us now. And so, Joe, what did you here from the Chinese ambassador that is encouraging?
JOE CIRINCIONE, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: He wants to aim right down the middle. Yes, pressure, but not so much pressure that this could lead to a military conflict. This is in keeping in line with China's general idea that they want peace and stability on their borders. They are suspicious of the United States, but they're very upset about what North Korea has just done. They want to try to settle this by negotiations. I would expect this to play out over the next few weeks and months.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Joe.
Richard Roth is our correspondent there at the U.N. He joins us now. Richard, did all take place according to the plan?
RICHARD ROTH, SR. UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is -- is there a plan here to work out this nuclear crisis of sorts? Echoing what Joe Cirincione said there, it'll definitely week and months. You have China -- excuse me, you have North Korea saying, we now will follow a policy of dialogue and confrontation.
The Chinese ambassador just told the press, we are not in favor of inspections. They think of it as coercive in nature because it really will be up to countries as necessary to stop and search goods and ships that might be sending to North Korea, weapons or paraphernalia that could be used, technology for weapons of mass destruction. There will also be an aspect of really, how much of the international community will participate in curbing North Korea's nuclear desires.
The Security Council meeting, though, had its fireworks, with the North Korean delegation walking out after delivering its speech, as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton then said, the empty chair there is quite significant, second time in three and a half months that they walked out. Representative of Nikita Kruschev pounding his shoe inside the General Assembly table.
WHITFIELD: And Richard, I just want to jump in and let you know that on the right-hand side of the screen, obviously, we're seeing President Bush and even next to him, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. There's been no official reaction from the White House as yet, but we're hoping to hear from the president's comments coming from the shadows of the Pentagon, where a U.S. Air Force memorial is being dedicated. And, of course, we'll be listening in to that.
All right. Sorry about that, Richard. I'll let you continue.
ROTH: Well, that's all right. Over here we may see a U.S. Ambassador Bolton at the microphone again. The resolution was unanimous, but once again, let's repeat that the council is telling North Korea, we'll lift these sanctions if you come back to the dialogue. And analysts will point out, that's the avenue. They can come back to dialogue if they want to, but they've ignored those talks once again.
The resolution took several days of hard bargaining here. This is the second tough resolution at North Korea, but again, we've seen, over the decades, Fredricka, countries ignore resolutions.
WHITFIELD: Right.
ROTH: And these things go on and on, as we now can listen, if you're interested. And U.S. Ambassador John Bolton is at the microphone.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And I -- OK. Very good. Let's listen in.
JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Well, we're very pleased by the outcome of the unanimous vote by the Security Council, and a strong resolution that imposes significant sanctions against the North Korean programs of weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles.
And also because it was acting under Chapter 7, calls for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of their nuclear, chemical, biological weapons program and their ballistic missiles program. It calls on them not to test any more ballistic missiles and obviously not to test any nuclear weapons. So this is a clear signal.
We think this represents, essentially, what the United States asked for when it circulated its draft resolution on Monday this, and the terms that the council has agreed to are in exactly line with our recommendations and policy.
So this is an important moment. The question now is how North Korea responds. I note that they walked out yet again, as they did after the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1695. I hope that's not really a sign of the North Korean attitude toward the Security Council, but I suppose we will see in coming days.
So I'd happy to take a few questions.
QUESTION: Ambassador, China said very clearly that it doesn't support inspection of cargo moving in and out of North Korea. They're not going to take part in it. How do you respond to that?
BOLTON: Well, they are bound by this resolution, which is under Chapter 7, having determined that there's a threat to international peace and security, the legal adviser to the Chinese Foreign Ministry has previously agreed with other permanent members that that kind of language is legally binding on U.N. members, and I can't believe that China won't adhere to obligations that the Security Council has imposed.
QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, (INAUDIBLE) of resolution by the North Korean ambassador, what if Korea tomorrow -- you wake up and they conducted another test? Do you plans what the Security Council would do in that case?
BOLTON: I think before we speculate about what they might do, we'll wait and see what the official reaction is. I'm hoping that the ambassadors' reaction here today was just his personal reaction, although I doubt it, but we will give them time to respond. And I hope that they choose the correct path, give up the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and open up the potential for their oppressed people for a better life.
QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, there is going to be a committee forming about this subject. I was wondering what country are you going to suggest be part of that committee? And what part -- what role does the Australia Group have to do with that committee?
BOLTON: I think that the government of Slovakia has agreed to chair the committee, which we welcome. The issue of the Australia Group Control List goes to the chemical and biological weapons issue that Russia objected to putting in the same status as the Nuclear Suppliers Group and Missile Technology Control Regime. But we expect within the next two weeks, we're certainly going to push for the Australia Group Control List to be used for biological and chemical weapons issues.
QUESTION: The United States flattened North Korea in the 1950s, nearly nuked them, and it seems they...
BOLTON: I don't think that's quite right.
QUESTION: ... well, they fear that it could happen again. Where is the policy of engagement here? It seems North Korea always reacts to the United States. Where is the engaging part of the United States?
BOLTON: Well, that is an analysis consistent with the view of those who always blame America first. Our view is somewhat different. We have told the North Koreans repeatedly that we're prepared to have bilateral discussions with them in the context of the six-party talks, which they have boycotted for 13 months. They could have these conversations. They're ones that are rejecting them. They're the ones that are not willing to sit down and talk. They're the ones that are not engaged in negotiation.
QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, earlier in the week, you said that you were sure that Iran would be closely following what you would be doing here regarding North Korea. What do you suspect they are going to infer from your actions today?
BOLTON: I'm sorry. I apologize. I didn't hear the first part of your question.
QUESTION: Earlier in the week you had mentioned that you were sure that Iran would be closely watching what you would be doing here in the Council regarding North Korea. What kind of signal do you believe you're sending to them today?
BOLTON: I think this shows quite strongly that the Council's not going to tolerate the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and that Iran should learn from this lesson.
QUESTION: How confident are you, though? Because the Chinese have said repeatedly -- I know you spoke to this a bit earlier -- the Chinese said repeatedly, we will not take part, whether it's for reasons of sovereignty or the issue that this may cause an escalation. But you're banking on this inspections to be the lock on materiels going out or coming in. Is that correct?
BOLTON: Well, China voted in favor of a resolution that authorizes inspection and also requires all member governments not to participate in any way in transactions with North Korea involving weapons of mass destruction or certain specified categories of weapons.
Now, China has to comply with that obligation, which is binding under Chapter 7 and which they themselves supported. So perhaps they've got another way to make sure that their land transportation routes and airspace are not being violated by North Korea's or others'.
And I take it they will find a way to do that. I assume they will, otherwise they would have a problem with the resolution.
QUESTION: There's an assumption though, on this part. Is there any way of assuring that they will...
WHITFIELD: All right. Our apologies to the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. for interrupting his statements, but now we want to listen in to President Bush, who is at a dedication ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Memorial.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Terry Nicholson, General Hayden, General Pace, Secretary Wynn, General Moseley, Chief Master Sergeant McKinley, Ross Perot, Jr., Major General Grillo, members of the armed forces, military veterans, and distinguished guests, Laura and I are honored to join you on this historic day.
With today's ceremony, the United States Air Force begins a yearlong celebration of its sixtieth birthday. As someone who recently crossed that milestone, it's not all that bad. I can think of no better way to begin the celebrations than by dedicating this magnificent monument. So General Grillo here, in the company of the brave men and women of the United States Air Force, I proudly accept the Air Force Memorial on behalf of the American people.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: A soldier can walk the battlefields where he once fought. A Marine can walk the beaches he once stormed. But an Airman can never visit the patch of sky he raced across on a mission to defend freedom. And so it is fitting that from this day forward, the men and women of the Air Force will have this memorial, a place here on the ground that recognizes their achievements and sacrifices in the skies above.
Building this memorial took a lot of talent and creativity and determination. Like the aircraft whose flight it represents, this memorial is a credible incredible feat of engineering. Like the country whose freedom it represents, this memorial is hopeful and optimistic. By its design, this monument raises their eyes towards the vast and open skies and focuses our mind on the endless possibilities of human flight.
Having flown an F-102, I know the exhilaration of flight, and as the son of an aviator who was shot down in combat, I am keenly aware of its dangers. I have spent a lot of time with the aviators, and one thing about them that has always struck me, aviators by their nature are optimistic people. It takes an optimist to climb into a steel tube, race through the sky at 1,500 miles an hour, heading toward danger and expect to return home safely.
Yet this is precisely what the men and women of the Air Force do for our country every day. America's grateful for your service, and I am proud to be the commander of chief of such fine men and women.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Today, it is hard to imagine a world without the Air Force protecting us in the skies above. Yet by the standards of history, air power is still a relatively new phenomenon. Men have been fighting on land and sea for thousands of years, but there are still Americans alive today who were born before man had ever flown. Over the last century, manned flight has gone from the dream of two brothers working in an Ohio bicycle shop to an indispensable tool in our nation's arsenal.
We saw the importance of air power six days ago -- six decades ago after our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor. Soon after the attack, General Hap Arnold called Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle into his office and gave him an unprecedented mission: retaliate against Tokyo.
Just over four months later, Doolittle's raiders had shocked the world by striking the enemy capital some 4,000 miles away from Pearl Harbor. To do it, they had to load B-52 bombers on the deck of an aircraft carrier, sail within a few hundred miles of enemy territory, take off and drop their payloads knowing they had little chance to make it safely to China.
But the Doolittle raid sent a clear message to America's enemies: if you attack this country, and you harm our people, there is no corner of the earth remote enough to protect you from the reach of the aviators who we wear our nation's uniform.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Five years ago, our enemies learned this lesson anew after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Within weeks of the attack, pilots at Whitman Air Force Base in Missouri boarded B-2 stealth bombers, flew halfway across the world refueling in midair, took out the Taliban and al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan, dropped into Diego Garcia for engine running crew changes, and then made the journey home. Jimmy Doolittle would have been proud.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Together with Navy and marine air crew, submarine and special ops forces from every service in a vast coalition of nations, the United States Air Force helped deliver justice to a regime nearly 7,000 miles away from the World Trade Center and helped put the terrorists on the run.
Five years have passed since the opening salvos in the war on terror, and every day in this war, we depend on the skill and determination of the men and women of the United States Air Force.
In this war, battlefield airmen on the ground scout out enemy positions, locate targets for aviators circling above, and use advance laser guidance systems to steer bombs, allowing us to strike the terrorists and spare innocent civilians.
In this war, Air Force aviators in Nevada step into a camouflaged trailer on their base, sit down in front of computer consoles and fly Predator unmanned aerial vehicles half a world away over the skies of Iraq, using them to find and remove terrorist nests in remote corners of the world.
In this war, our airmen operate advance space satellites circling the earth. They beam down real-time images of terrorist positions to our troops on the ground so they can strike the enemy before the enemy can strike our country.
In this war, Air Force C-130 crews deliver supplies to our troops on the frontlines. Air Force teams disarm and remove roadside bombs. Air Force maintenance squadrons keep our planes in the air. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts provide close air support for troops in contact with the enemy. And Air Force search and rescue teams evacuate soldiers and sailors, airmen and marines injured in the war on terror.
Whether they are serving on the frontlines, or bases overseas, or here in the home front, the men and women of the United States Air Force bring honor to the uniform and they are bringing us victory in a war on terror.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: And the stakes in this war could not be higher. Terrorists and extremists are fighting to overthrow moderate governments across the broader Middle East so they can take control of countries and use them as bases from which to attack America. If we do not defeat these enemies now, we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons.
We're in a war that will set the course for this new century and determine the destiny of millions across the world. Defeating the terrorists and extremists is the challenge of our time and the calling of this generation.
And like generations that came before, we will answer history's call with confidence. We will confront the threats to our way of life. We will fight for our liberty without wavering, and we will prevail.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Victory in this war depends on one thing that has not changed since the founding of the Air Force six decades ago: the courage of the men and women who wear the Air Force blue.
We see that courage in the men and women of the Air Force who return from battle with wounds they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. We see that courage in the airmen who left our shores to defend freedom and did not live to make the journey home. They gave their lives so that their fellow Americans could enjoy a bright horizon of freedom and peace. We mourn every loss. We pray for their families.
And here at this memorial, we consecrate their memory for the ages. This memorial lies in sight of Arlington National cemetery, where so many of those fallen airmen are buried. This memorial also lies in sight of the Pentagon, where our nation came under attack.
It is a fitting location. Under these magnificent spires, we pay tribute to the men and women of the Air Force who stand ready to give all for their country, and looking from the promontory to a place once filled with smoke and flames, we remember why we need them.
Every man and woman who has worn the Air Force uniform is part of a great history. From the Berlin airlift to the Korean War to Vietnam to the Gulf war to Kosovo and today's war on terror, a long blue line of heroes has defended freedom in the skies above.
To all who have climbed sunward and chased the shouting wind, America stops to say your service and sacrifice will be remembered forever and honored in this place by the citizens of a free and grateful nation. May God bless you all.
WHITFIELD: You've been listening to President Bush reiterating his message on maintaining the war on terror, calling it the calling of this generation. All this taking place at the dedication ceremony there in the shadows of the Pentagon at the U.S. Air Force Memorial.
Significant because this is the first memorial dedicated to the U.S. Air Force, the last of the armed services to get a memorial there in the Washington, D.C. area. The memorial that you don't see in that picture depicting the formation of a bomb burst, a signature maneuver of fighter jets. Now all this taking place in -- there it is right there, the bomb burst statue there, commemorating those men and women who have served in the U.S. Air Force.
Now all of this taking place in the same hour that the 15-member Security Council at the U.N. voted to impose sanctions against North Korea, because of its recent nuclear test. Outraged, the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. called the adoption of the vote "gangster- like," and even exited the council there before being able to hear from the other members of the Security Council.
We will continue to follow this story, as well as the White House's point of view on the U.N. Security Council's vote coming up in the NEWSROOM about one hour from now. Join us on that. Meantime, we want to take you now to "CNN PRESENTS: WHERE HAVE ALL THE PARENTS GONE?" already in progress.
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