[EDITORS - this is a background piece which can run any time between now and the start of the UN General Assembly on Tues 19th Sept]
Since 2006 the United Nations has imposed resolutions and sanctions against the country in an effort to curb its testing…..but so far to no avail.
IN: "Missile..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3:10
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-von.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-938.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-ziz.mp3
TAKE VO
Missile, after missile, after missile. North Korea is repeatedly defying the international community.
And in the process violating 8 United Nations Security Council resolutions. A worrying trend says the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
SOT António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The nuclear and missile tests by the DPRK have created great instability and tension on the Korean peninsula, throughout the region and beyond. Unity in the Security Council is critical."
TAKE VO
So far that unity is holding. China and Russia both supported the two US-proposed sanctions packages that were unanimously adopted in early August and last week. But UN watchers worry that could change. Here's Richard Gowan from the European Council on Foreign Relations.
SOT - Richard Gowan, European Council on Foreign Relations
"I think we're coming to a breaking point. The Chinese and the Russian will continue to work with the US in the Security Council if the US shows some willingness to open up a diplomatic dialogue to resolve the problem Trump is saying that it is not time to talk. And that would create splits in the Council comparable to those over Iraq in 2003."
TAKE VO
Added together America estimates the UN sanctions have banned 90% of North Korea's exports, limiting the money it can put into its nuclear and missile programs.
Yet Pyongyang is finding other ways to finance them, like selling weapons on the black market. Leaving diplomats unsure how best to stop a country intent on carrying on regardless.
TAKE VO
North Korea will feature prominently in both the public speeches and the backroom discussions. Along with the acknowledgment that Pyongyang is time and again riding roughshod over resolutions imposed by the UN. And that may prompt the need for a new approach to the problem of North Korea.
TAKE VO
The US and South Korea have strengthened the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, based in South Korea.
And the two countries' defense chiefs have discussed redeploying American nuclear weapons to the South - reversing US policy in place since 1991 when Washington withdrew its warheads from the peninsula.
TAKE VO
But experts like Professor Michael John Williams, from the International Relations Program at New York University, believe other options are being considered.
SOT Professor Michael John Williams, International Relations Program, New York University
"I doubt we'll see any sort of military action approved by the UN Security Council especially due to Russia and China and their vetoes. There most like is planning in Washington for some sort of military strike. It could be a conventional strike using special forces aimed at securing nuclear facilities and fissile material, that would involve tens of thousands of special operatives. Or it could be some sort of nuclear first strike which is really quite scary and concerning."
TAKE VO
Sanctions, diplomacy, or military action. Three options to be discussed and their benefits and potential drawbacks carefully weighed at this year's UN General Assembly.
SOC
ENDS
This year North Korea has carried out missile tests on at least 15 occasions, and more worryingly, has tested its strongest nuclear weapon to date.
Since 2006 the United Nations has imposed resolutions and sanctions against the country in an effort to curb its testing…..but so far to no avail.
In the last week the UN Security Council has held two emergency meetings, to impose the toughest sanctions yet, and to condemn the latest missile that flew over Japan.
At this week's upcoming UN General Assembly the Secretary-General has promised to lead talks, on how to resolve the problem of North Korea.
Nick Harper in New York looks at the options available.
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3:10
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-von.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-938.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0917un-nkorea-nh-ziz.mp3
TAKE VO
Missile, after missile, after missile. North Korea is repeatedly defying the international community.
And in the process violating 8 United Nations Security Council resolutions. A worrying trend says the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
SOT António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"The nuclear and missile tests by the DPRK have created great instability and tension on the Korean peninsula, throughout the region and beyond. Unity in the Security Council is critical."
TAKE VO
So far that unity is holding. China and Russia both supported the two US-proposed sanctions packages that were unanimously adopted in early August and last week. But UN watchers worry that could change. Here's Richard Gowan from the European Council on Foreign Relations.
SOT - Richard Gowan, European Council on Foreign Relations
"I think we're coming to a breaking point. The Chinese and the Russian will continue to work with the US in the Security Council if the US shows some willingness to open up a diplomatic dialogue to resolve the problem Trump is saying that it is not time to talk. And that would create splits in the Council comparable to those over Iraq in 2003."
TAKE VO
Added together America estimates the UN sanctions have banned 90% of North Korea's exports, limiting the money it can put into its nuclear and missile programs.
Yet Pyongyang is finding other ways to finance them, like selling weapons on the black market. Leaving diplomats unsure how best to stop a country intent on carrying on regardless.
TAKE VO
North Korea will feature prominently in both the public speeches and the backroom discussions. Along with the acknowledgment that Pyongyang is time and again riding roughshod over resolutions imposed by the UN. And that may prompt the need for a new approach to the problem of North Korea.
TAKE VO
The US and South Korea have strengthened the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, based in South Korea.
And the two countries' defense chiefs have discussed redeploying American nuclear weapons to the South - reversing US policy in place since 1991 when Washington withdrew its warheads from the peninsula.
TAKE VO
But experts like Professor Michael John Williams, from the International Relations Program at New York University, believe other options are being considered.
SOT Professor Michael John Williams, International Relations Program, New York University
"I doubt we'll see any sort of military action approved by the UN Security Council especially due to Russia and China and their vetoes. There most like is planning in Washington for some sort of military strike. It could be a conventional strike using special forces aimed at securing nuclear facilities and fissile material, that would involve tens of thousands of special operatives. Or it could be some sort of nuclear first strike which is really quite scary and concerning."
TAKE VO
Sanctions, diplomacy, or military action. Three options to be discussed and their benefits and potential drawbacks carefully weighed at this year's UN General Assembly.
SOC
ENDS