By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 8 -- How seriously are different parts of the UN taking North Korea's threats, including of another nuclear test?
In the Hague, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday commented on the mere rumor or reports of such a test. This despite Ban's Spokesperson's Office routinely telling Inner City Press, we do no comment on media reports.
Meanwhile after Monday afternoon's North Korea sanctions committee meeting, chairperson Sylvie Lucus, the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN, told the press that the committee did not discuss the “overall situation,” or even the “recent tensions.” Video here.
The Committee focused on implementing the resolution adopted by the Security Council after North Korea's last move, the upcoming expiration of its mandate, and a possible meeting for all member states about the new sanctions.
She added that the Panel of Experts needs more navigation expertise. Another Committee member told Inner City Press it was “boring... no politics.”
But noteworthy: in the UN's transcript of Ban's remarks in the Hague, he denounced the rhetoric coming from Kim Jong-Il. That would have to be from beyond the grave. Watch this site.
