Community | November 19, 2009 | 9 comments

Obama Takes Stern Tone on N. Korea and Iran

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html?ref=world

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SEOUL, South Korea — President Obama delivered a stern message on Thursday to North Korea and Iran that they risk further sanctions and isolation if they do not rein in their nuclear ambitions.

Appearing at a joint press conference with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea, Mr. Obama singled out Iran, where leaders have apparently rejected an offer from the West to take Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium to another country to turn it into fuel rods, which would buy time for diplomatic negotiations.

“We’ve seen indications that for internal political reasons or perhaps because they are stuck in some of their own rhetoric, they are unable to get to ‘yes,’ ” Mr. Obama said. “As a consequence, we have begun discussion with our international partners” on sanctions, he said.

He said that over the next few weeks the United States would be developing a package of “potential steps we can take that will indicate our seriousness.”

Mr. Obama’s words were his strongest to date and seemed to signal that he was ready to move to sanctions.

On the North, Mr. Obama said he was sending his North Korea envoy to Pyongyang next month for talks designed to try to get the nation back to the bargaining table. But he warned that even getting the North back to the table would not be enough.

“I want to emphasize that President Lee and I both agree on the need to break the pattern that existed in the past in which North Korea behaves in a provocative fashion, then is willing to return to talks, and then talks for a while, and then leaves the talks and seeks further concessions,” Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Obama’s visit to Seoul is the last — and perhaps easiest — leg of an Asia trip in which he was forced to deal with a newly assertive Japan and an increasingly powerful China.

South Korea quickly proved true the predictions that it would be more accommodating to Mr. Obama, with whom Mr. Lee has been cooperating closely on key issues, including efforts to eventually halt North Korea’s nuclear program.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html?ref=world
  1. groups:
    Community,   World Politics,   News_Featured,   International Relations,   1 more
  2. tags:
    Iran,  United States,  North Korea,  Asia,  2 more
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9 comments // Obama Takes Stern Tone on N. Korea and Iran

  • AtomUniverse1
  • 2helenahandbasket
    • 0
      2helenahandbasket  

    • Heh, heh. Funny. Obama takes a 'stern tone'. WHY would they care what kind of tone Obama takes? They care about as much as China cares......... (hint:... not at all.)

    • 2 years ago
  • biggranny
  • ProjectBat
    • 0
      ProjectBat  

    • lol, so now we're trying to buy our own safety? Give me a break, we're even giving aid to our enemies...man we need a foreign policy bailout.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
  • samthesixth
    • 0
      samthesixth  

    • We have been down this road with Clinton and Bush. Both times we got empty promises in exchange for our taxpayer dollars. Neither time did North Korea actually stop making nukes or processing uranium. The deal must be verifiable and they should have to go first.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  

    • This is Obama at his best. I think he will be remembered as a tactful foreign policy diplomat... Just like Clinton got Pyongyang to abandon nuclear weapons for aid, Obama aims to do the same. If he succeeds, he will have really improved the tense atmosphere and relations in the region.

      Its very important that he try to defuse the situation. Japan is starting to assert itself and it is not out of the question that Japan might even enter into an arms race if it ever feels threatened by North Korea... And that would distabilize the region in a potentially very harmful way.

    • 2 years ago
  • calm_incense
    • 0
      calm_incense  

    • How the hell do they not understand by now that Kim Jung-Il doesn't give a damn about the welfare of his people? He'll take personal power over well-fed citizenry any day.

    • 2 years ago
  • MirTavakoli
    • 0
      MirTavakoli  
    • calm_incense:

      The past is the lesson to be learned. As the leader one has to be concerned about the well being of his/her people and country while concerned about our home, the planet earth. The ignorance of the mankind throughout the history is a good indicator for what we witness during our times, therefore we as the citizens of our mother land should raise our voice and rest assured the wisdom and knowledge of our time prevails.
      i suggest today: there should be an observance day for Planet Without Nuks. We should work together to pass the message all over the world, to quit working in tha day and come to the streets of this planet and deliver our concern and voice.

    • 2 years ago
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