미국: 북한 핵실험 계획은 ‘도발’

미국 백악관은 24일(현지시간) 북한이 핵실험을 강행의지를 밝힌 것에 대해 “불필요한 도발”이며 국제사회에서의 고립을 심화할 것이라며 강하게 비난했다.

북한이 유엔 안전보장이사회의 대북제재 결의에 반발해 제3차 핵실험을 예고하면서 이제 관심은 핵실험 단추를 언제 누를지에 쏠린다. 사진은 구글 어스가 지난해 11월 13일 촬영한 북한 함경북도 길주군 풍계리 핵실험장 일대 모습. (연합뉴스)

제이 카니 백악관 대변인은 “북한의 성명은 불필요한 도발(needlessly provocative)이며 유엔안보리 결의안에 대한 중대한 위반사항”이라고 지적했다. 그는 “추가적인 도발은 평양의 고립을 심화시킬 뿐이며, 북한이 계속해서 핵과 미사일 프로그램에 집중하는 것은 북한 국민들에게 전혀 도움이 되지 않는다”라고 덧붙엿다.

카니는 제재를 강화하기로 한 안보리의 결정으로 인해 북한의 WMD 개발 계획이 지연될 것이라면서 미국이 이와 관련된 추가적인 조치를 취할 것이라고 밝혔다.

북한은 24일 국방위원회 명의로 낸 성명에서 “우리가 발사하게 될 여러 가지 위 성과 장거리 로켓도, 우리가 진행할 높은 수준의 핵실험도 미국을 겨냥하게 된다는 것을 숨기지 않는다”라고 밝힌 바 있다.

이는 유엔 안보보장위원회가 북한에 대한 추가적인 제재내용을 담은 제2087호 결의안을 채택한 것에 대한 반발로 받아들여지고 있다.

AP통신 등 미국언론은 이와 관련해 북한이 작년 로켓발사가 인공위성이라고 주장해온 기존 입장을 바꿔 대륙간 탄도미사일을 개발하고 있고, 여기에 핵탄두를 탑재함으로써 미국을 핵공격할 능력을 키우고 있음을 공개한 위협으로 해석하고 있다.

AP통신은 “북한이 핵탄두를 탑재한 대륙간 탄도미사일을 개발해 미 본토까지 공격을 가할 수 있는 능력에는 못미친 것으로 보이지만 점점 더 가까워지고 있음을 보여주는 것”이라고 경고했다.

미국 정부는 이날 북한의 단천상업은행 중국 베이징지사의 직원을 포함한 개인 4명과 홍콩 주재 무역회사인 ‘리더 인터내셔널’ 등을 대량살상무기(WMD) 확산 등에 관여한 혐의로 제재했다.

한편 리온 파네타 국방부 장관은 북한이 핵실험을 할 것이라는 “밖으로 드러난 징후”는 보이지 않다고 말하면서도 “미국은 북한 의 어떤 도발에도 대응할 수 있도록 대비태세를 갖추고 있다”고 강조했다.

파네타 장관은 “(미국정부는) 북한의 계속된 도발에 깊은 우려를 표하고 있다”면서 “북한이 결국에는 국제사회의 일원이 되는 것이 낫다는 결정을 하기를 바란다”라고 말했다.

북한의 얼마 되지 않는 우방 중 하나인 중국은 평양이 핵실험을 강행할 경우 원조를 줄일 것이라고 밝히는 등 예외적으로 북한을 향한 강한 경고 메시지를 보냈다.

중국의 영자 기관지인 글로벌 타임즈는 25일 사설을 통해 “만약 북한이 계속해서 핵실험을 한다면, 중국은 북한에 대한 원조를 줄이는데 주저하지 않을 것이다”라고 밝혔다.

글로벌 타임즈는 또한 중국이 유엔결의안에 동의한 것을 북한이 비난한 것에 대해 불만을 표했다. (코리아헤럴드)

U.S.: North Korea’s nuke test plan ‘provocative’

North Korea‘s plan to conduct a third nuclear test is “needlessly provocative” and will only increase its isolation, the White House said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he has seen no outward sign that North Korea will follow through soon on its plan to conduct a test -- following its underground atomic explosions in 2006 and 2009. But the U.S. is fully prepared against any kind of provocation, he said.

Washington slapped economic sanctions on two North Korean bank officials and a Hong Kong trading company that it accused of supporting Pyongyang’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

China’s state-run media said on Friday Beijing will decrease aid to Pyongyang if it goes ahead with a planned nuclear test.

On Thursday North Korea‘s National Defense Commission said a nuclear test was part of “upcoming” action directed against the U.S., but did not say exactly when or where it would take place.

The commission, led by leader Kim Jong-un, also made clear that its long-range rockets are designed to carry warheads aimed at striking the United States. The North has previously said its launches are for a peaceful space program.

Pyongyang’s statement came two days after the U.N. Security Council condemned its December launch of a satellite atop a long-range rocket for violating a ban on ballistic missile activity. The council, with the support of the North‘s only major ally, China, also tightened sanctions.

“North Korea’s statement is needlessly provocative and a test would be a significant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” White House spokesman Carney told reporters. “Further provocation would only increase Pyongyang‘s isolation, and its continued focus on its nuclear and missile program is doing nothing to help the North Korean people.”

Carney said the council decision to tighten sanctions would impede the growth of weapons of mass destruction programs in North Korea. He said the U.S. would be taking additional steps. The government later designated as “trade” several entities said to be involved in missile development.

Carney noted the council’s warning to take further action in the event of a further launch or nuclear test.

“We judge North Korea by its actions, and provocations like these are significant violations and we act accordingly,” Carney said.

Defense Secretary Panetta said the United States is “very concerned” about North Korea‘s threat but is prepared to deal with any kind of provocation from Pyongyang.

Panetta, speaking at a Pentagon news conference, said North Korea’s actions would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, distance Pyongyang from the international community and “do nothing, nothing other than jeopardize the hope for peace.”

“We are very concerned with North Korea‘s continuing provocative behavior,” Panetta said. “We are fully prepared...to deal with any kind of provocation from the North Koreans. But I hope in the end that they determine that it is better to make a choice to become part of the international family.”

The U.S. Treasury Department levied sanctions against a Hong Kong-based trading company and two officials of a North Korean bank.

The two men worked for North Korea’s Tanchon Commercial Bank. The company, Leader (Hong Kong) International Trading Ltd, was separately blacklisted by the United Nations on Wednesday.

Leader is an agent for KOMID, a North Korean mining and trading company that was sanctioned in 2009 and is the country‘s main arms dealer, the United Nations said.

“Our actions today target two North Korean entities, Tanchon Commercial Bank and KOMID, that are part of the web of banks, front companies and government agencies that support North Korea’s continued proliferation activities,” said David Cohen, U.S. Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The action bans contact between any U.S. citizen and Ra Kyong-su, TCB representative to Beijing, and Kim Kwang-il, TCB deputy representative to Beijing, and freezes their assets. It also freezes the assets of, and bans contacts with, Leader.

“By continuing to expose these entities, and the individuals who assist them, we degrade North Korea‘s ability to use the international financial system for its illicit purpose,” Cohen said in a statement.

China, the North’s leading energy supplier and trade partner and one of the few nations able to influence Pyongyang‘s behavior, issued an unusually frank warning Friday.

“If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance to North Korea,” the Global Times, which is close to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

“China hopes for a stable peninsula, but it’s not the end of the world if there‘s trouble there,” it added.

“We should have a pragmatic attitude to deal with the problems and pursue the optimal ratio between our investment of resources and strategic gains.”

The editorial also expressed discontent at North Korean criticism of Beijing for backing a U.N. Security Council resolution this week.

From news reports