U.S. urged to apologize and compensate for its piracy against DPRK ship
KCNA
1/8/2003
Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Powell was reported to have said that "The United States will stop and search ships from North Korea if it feels the need" and "we would intercept anything we think deserved to be intercepted. We have the right to intercept and take whatever action we believe appropriate in the circumstances." These outbursts clearly indicate what an alarming phase the Bush administration's illegal and inhuman hostile policy toward the DPRK and its unilateralism have reached as they are little short of a declaration that it would commit more piratical acts against DPRK trading cargo ships in the days ahead.
Toward the end of last year the U.S. mobilized huge forces to stop, search and seize in broad daylight DPRK trading cargo ship Sosan on its routine voyage in the open sea, evoking worldwide criticism and scoff at it.
It is universally known that the DPRK is developing and producing missiles to protect itself from constant military threat posed by the U.S. and exporting them for a commercial purpose.
The DPRK has never concealed this fact.
If its production and export of missiles are as dangerous as proliferating weapons of mass destruction as claimed by the U.S., it is the U.S. which is totally to blame for it.
The U.S. tops the world's list in producing and selling the weapons of mass destruction and it is raking up biggest profits in arms sale. Such being a stark fact, the U.S. committed piracy against the DPRK ship with missile parts and building materials on board which were to be delivered to a foreign country under a legal trading contract made with that country. Far from making an apology and compensation for the piracy the U.S. is calling for intercepting and searching DPRK ships. This is a height of impudence.
What matters is that such piracy is being committed as part of the U.S. tailored containment strategy against the DPRK. The strategy means total economic sanctions aimed at isolating and stifling the DPRK.
Sanctions mean a war and the war knows no mercy. The U.S. should opt for dialogue with the DPRK, not for war, clearly aware that it will have to pay a very high price for such reckless acts.
The U.S. should apologize and compensate for its piracy against the ship as early as possible.
