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Susan Rice: 'We Will Not Stand for Violations of International Law'
April 05, 2009 9:58 AM
UN Ambassador Susan Rice said on "This Week" Sunday that the United States will be reviewing its assessment of whether North Korea has the capability to launch a nuclear weapon toward the United States, following news today that North Korea tested a long-range ballistic missile.
"Our concern is to prevent North Korea from pursuing and disseminating nuclear weapons we view as a proliferation threat," Rice told me during a "This Week" interview this morning.
"It's actions today underscore our concern about it's development of not only nuclear weapons capability but the capability to deliver. That's what we are most concerned about preventing, and preventing North Korea from sharing that capability with others."
I asked Rice: "Is the United State now convinced that the North Koreans have a missile that could reach the United States?"
"I think, George, what today's experience showed is that they did not succeed, according to our best assessments, in putting that space launch vehicle into orbit," Rice said.
"That, therefore, was something short of success for North Korea. Our assessment is that their pursuit of a missile capability is of grave concern and that their aim is to achieve the capability to deliver a weapon as far potentially as to North America. I think we need to look at what transpired today and make a new assessment as a consequence," she said.
North Korea claims the missile put a satellite into orbit, but the U.S. military says the satellite dropped into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. officials believe the missile was really being tested to see if it could carry a nuclear warhead over Japan -- potentially as far as Alaska.
Rice, who is representing the United States in an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council this afternoon, said the U.S. is working closely with allies in Asia, in particular Japan and South Korea, to decide on an "appropriate response."
"The challenge, George is to convey with unity, as the president said today, on behalf of the international community, that we will not stand for violations of international law, which this launch represented, that there will be consequences, and that indeed we will proceed together with resolve the goal of achieving a Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons," Rice said.
I asked Rice: "Japan wants sanctions. Will the US cosponsor a sanctions resolution?"
"The US is working very closely with Japan and we will be in consultation with our partners inside the council trying to get the most appropriate and strong response we can possibly get," she said.
Rice emphasized that the U.S. will work with the members of the UN security council, including China, on a response.
"We all need to come together around this," she said, "But the United States' view is this is serious, it's a violation, and it merits an appropriately strong United Nations response."
On China, which has opposed sanctions against North Korean in the past, Rice said, "We're working very closely with China. China shares the same goal that we do which is a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula. China also is very proximate on the border with North Korea and shares our desire not to see this situation escalate and to ensure that we can achieve, George, the long-term goal which is de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula though the six-party talk process."
"Is that why they're not going along with tougher sanctions?" I asked.
"Well, I think they have multiple concerns," Rice said. "They are looking at the long-term goal of ensuring that we don't have a nuclearized Korean peninsula. There have been times when we have differed as to the best ways in achieving that. But we are unified with China and others in the six-parties towards the goal, George, that we roll back this nuclear program that North Korea is pursuing."
--George Stephanopoulos
P.S. Ambassador Rice's husband, Ian Cameron, produces "This Week." To avoid any conflict he was not involved in any way with today's interview. I booked the interview directly with the White House, and did not discuss the interview with Ian after that. He did not provide any research assistance, suggest topics or questions, and he was not present in the control room during the interview.
April 5, 2009 in This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (69)
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How do you talk to someone directly thru a third party?
Posted by: Mark | Apr 5, 2009 10:17:30 AM
Who cares, we get all excited about this because we want to feel all powerful and bully other nations in doing what we want. Are we not the greatest supplier of weapons to the world. Are we not the nation that attacks someone new every three years or so. Give me a break.
Posted by: Huh | Apr 5, 2009 10:20:52 AM
She's cute.
Posted by: Tony | Apr 5, 2009 10:32:22 AM
A good place to start would be to lead by example and understand that Bush's violations were so egregious that it will require time before we can ascend to the bully pulpit on this issue.
Posted by: jan | Apr 5, 2009 10:33:12 AM
Oh, I'll bet North Korea is scared! Actually I'm the one scared....scared of the Obama regime. Let's review, the response to the rocket launch, which the Obama regime suggested before launch was unacceptable, is to put the talking heads on television. Then, we're going to the security council for sanctions, as if that hasn't already been tried, with no results.
Now, Obama himself is in the Czeck republic, and his answer is to cut nuclear weapons across the board! that should really scare the living heck out of the likes of North Korea and Iran.
"We will not stand for violations of international law"....it's more like the Obama regime will stand by for each and every violation, and respond with weakness, the likes of which haven't been seen since the Jimmy Carter era. Folks, we are in deep trouble regarding the Obama regime! Just wait and see....
Posted by: TxBoB | Apr 5, 2009 10:42:12 AM
Right keep telling them they did not succeed and what a failure it was, that will only make them want to show us how wrong we are ...good job Rice
Posted by: SJ | Apr 5, 2009 11:10:00 AM
What is Rice going to do? Send Peanut Carter to NK to talk nice to them?
Posted by: SureEnough08 | Apr 5, 2009 11:18:11 AM
"But the United States' view is this is serious, it's a violation, and it merits an appropriately strong United Nations response."
In other words, a strongly worded letter of condemnation is in order! That'll surely work!
Posted by: Stacey | Apr 5, 2009 11:33:15 AM
Susan Rice: 'We Will Not Stand for Violations of International Law'
Then just sit down
Posted by: Huh | Apr 5, 2009 11:33:37 AM
Obama wants to do away with our Atomic arsenal so here's his chance. Write a letter to North Korea and tell them we don't mind them shooting a missle across the ocean but keep in mind we have about 15,000 of them to get rid of and North Korea is as good a place as any to dump them.
Posted by: Frank W., New Mexico | Apr 5, 2009 11:49:28 AM
4 Sale.. long range missiles that can hit the USSA(united socialist states of America)..Don't worry about the president or his ambassador to the UN they will not do anything ...Contact North korea for more details
Posted by: Obama and his cabinet of Clowns | Apr 5, 2009 11:50:06 AM
talk didn't stop anyone from building any weapon so we are helpless. epically if we are now perceived as talkers
Posted by: alice | Apr 5, 2009 12:07:35 PM
In response to this slap in the face from North Korea, the President said "...words must mean something..." He was right! Take for instance the words "...natural born citizen..." embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Isn't it time he release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii - not just the abstract seen on the Internet? What could he be hiding?
Posted by: Terry | Apr 5, 2009 12:10:47 PM
Susan Rice???? Susan rice???? does she play piano too!!!!!!!!!! LMAO
Posted by: lovingpolitics | Apr 5, 2009 12:31:29 PM
The naivete of this administration should give us all pause.
Posted by: jjsmith | Apr 5, 2009 12:36:36 PM
Why not just send NK a reactor or 2 along with an autographed basketball? That should shut 'em up for a while.
Posted by: Kim | Apr 5, 2009 12:38:07 PM
From the sound of things, this missile flew further than their first one, and regardless of the success or failure of its stated mission, this is cause for concern. We should attempt to recover as much of its components off the ocean floor as we can -- we have the technology; and, we would remove the speculation with evidence.
Posted by: Spartan Phoenix777 | Apr 5, 2009 12:47:12 PM
I bet we have a strongly worded letter ready to go telling the North Koreans that we won't stand for this. Maybe we should keep a copy of it so we can give one to Iran when they test thier nuclear weapons? Maybe we should apologize to them? I am pretty sure Bush gave up his "cowboy ways" on this and got the UN invovled so we wouldn't have these problems. Boy, that sure has worked out.
Posted by: Texan2112 | Apr 5, 2009 1:01:43 PM
Absurd. Just what is Obama going to do when he cannot get the Chinese or Russians to back him? This trip was a disaster and frankly embarrassing. No combat troops, no stimulus package support, and a North Korean launch after Obama told them not to do it. Obama does not understand that being liked doesn't mean anybody respects you.
Posted by: brian | Apr 5, 2009 1:10:44 PM
this launch by korea is blowback from the last 8 years... many countries are still fearful of the usa (fear is not the same as respect) and feel threatened, so they are trying to flex their muscle... thankfully obama is in office and can assess the situation RATIONALLY without the war mongering attitude
Posted by: earth_not_flat | Apr 5, 2009 1:23:36 PM
Absurd. Just what is Obama going to do when he cannot get the Chinese or Russians to back him? This trip was a disaster and frankly embarrassing. No combat troops, no stimulus package support, and a North Korean launch after Obama told them not to do it. Obama does not understand that being liked doesn't mean anybody respects you.
----------------------------------------
Exactly! Let's review, the North Koreans are in bed with the Iranians. The North Koreans are also in bed with the Chinese, while Iran is bed fellows with Russia. So, what's the chance of anything meaningful coming out of the Chinese and Russians? About a snowballs chance in you know where! We've figured it out, but unfortunately, I don't believe the Obama regime has.
Now, get that letter, tongue lashing and UN sanctions together, and let's see how they do....we're screwed!
Posted by: TxBoB | Apr 5, 2009 1:26:31 PM
There is no question N.Korea is escalating the heat by violating International rules and laws. My question is why didn't the US condemn Israel's atrocities in Lebanon and Palestine? Why is there outrage when so many innocent people were killed mercilessly with cluster bombs and incendiary materials. Why was the US supplying to Israel while the war was going on? I don't see any change in Obama's position from G.Bush's 8 years of destructive policy in middle east?
Posted by: kanan k | Apr 5, 2009 1:28:58 PM
We could try paying off the NK like Clinton did. Feed their starving masses. Stuff like that. Oh yeah, that didn't work. The NK's lied and went ahead with their nuclear program. It's sad that while something so horribly dangerous could be stopped, no one will do anything. Maybe China threatened to stop loaning us money if we shot down their little friend's rocket?
Posted by: Pam | Apr 5, 2009 1:35:39 PM
America's foriegn policy is wrong headed and utilizes bullying tactics against small weak countries.
This is nothing but a continuation of the 'Axis of Evil' philosophy initiated by George W Bush.
Bush never fought in a war and when he was in the reserves, and had a chance to go to Viet Nam, his daddy got him sent to Alabama on some secret mission. That is the closest thing he ever did in regards to fighting in a war.
North Korea is no threat to America and can hardly feed their people. The missiles they test are not
capable of reaching the U S. Obama promised change and then put that war monger Hilary Clinton in as Secretary of State.
Obama continues to follow Bush's and the military industrial complex's tract regarding war mongering all over the world.
Posted by: carnelld | Apr 5, 2009 1:41:16 PM
Not to worry. The limp wristed girlyman in the WH is fully prepared to assault Kim Jong with superhero meeshall's heaviest purse. Our only hope is that Kim Jong, given his illnesses, literally laughs himself to death over our gutless TOTUS. The messiah's back up plan is to get NK to give up their nuclear program in return for a lucrative no bid contract to cut the grass on the Illinois Tollroad.
Posted by: Hugh Glass | Apr 5, 2009 1:45:40 PM
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