The State Department acknowledged Thursday that North Korea has not been cowed by the sanctions imposed on it by the U.S. and the United Nations, in light of its third nuclear test since President Obama became president.
“Clearly, the regime hasn’t been deterred from doing these tests,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “There’s no question about that.”
“I think the 6th of January shows that they still have the capability and the willingness to do that,” he added.
But Kirby said even in light of North Korea’s claim that it tested a hydrogen bomb, the U.S. would continue to stick with its game plan of calling for tough sanctions against that country.
“It doesn’t mean that international pressure on the North is going to or should change in its character,” he said.
Kirby blamed North Korea for making “bad decisions,” and said finding ways to boost sanctions against the country is still better than some of the alternatives.
“I think we all recognize that open conflict on the peninsula is not a place you want to go,” he said. “So we’re going to keep increasing pressure.”
Kirby also admitted that perhaps sanctions should be tougher, but said North Korea’s latest nuclear test might give the U.S. a chance to impose tougher measures.
“So now we have another opportunity, and maybe this recent test can give us an opportunity,” he said. “Maybe now’s the time to put in place a tougher sanctions regime with even stronger enforcement methods to try to increase the pressure and change [North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un’s] calculus.”
He also said it’s possible the U.S. may decide to impose its own, tougher sanctions on North Korea.
“I’m not going to rule that out,” he said. “You can safely assume that U.S. decision-makers are considering a wide range of potential options here.”
