When then returned, the resolution was adopted 15-0, and a summary was sent out, including that "5. North Korean Overseas Workers (OP8): Requires countries to expel all North Korean laborers earning income abroad immediately but no later than 24 months later (end of 2019)."
But in the draft, in OP8, it was TWELVE months: "decides that Member States shall repatriate to the DPRK all DPRK nationals earning income in that Member State’s jurisdiction and all DPRK government safety oversight attachés monitoring DPRK workers abroad within 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution." Call it the Art of the Deal. We'll have more on this. In North Korea accompanying UN Department of Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman was a former staffer of his who now works directly with Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Katrin Hett. UN's belated read-out below, along with a fast InnerCityPro.com summary of Feltman's December 12 press encounter, in which Inner City Press asked him about North Korea's arguments against sanctions, and if Secretary General Antonio Guterres has a role (apparently not). Now on December 15 in the UN Security Council, after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's speech, below, Russia's Permanent Representative Nebenzia said, "We are living through one of the most acute and dramatic phases of the situation on the Korean peninsula. Military rhetoric accompanied by a test of strength between the participants has led to a situation where people start to wonder whether there will be war or not. Russia has observed with concern the dangerous developments. We call on the NK authorities to return to the non proliferation regime of the NPT and the IAEA as a non-nuclear state. At the same time, it should be clear to everybody that the DPRK is hardly going to refrain from its nuclear and missile program while it feels a threat to its security. Diplomacy isn’t just sanctions. Sanctions aren’t diplomacy, as some partners are trying to convince us. There is a whole range of other methods within the diplomatic arsenal. Resolving the nuclear issue is not possible just through pressure. Incidentally, in response to the US secretary of state, the North Korean workers aren’t working in in Russia in slave like conditions. They’re working on a basis of an intergovernmental agreement with DPRK that guarantees their rights. We hope the US will be able to help resolve the crisis in the Korean peninsula. Two and a half months of quiet from Pyongyang were answered by the US by unannounced military exercises."
Earlier, Tillerson said, "This body has taken a leading role in condemning North Korea’s unlawful programs and imposing consequences. We will not accept a nuclear North Korea. Each UN member state must implement existing UNSC resolution… hesitation calls into question whether your vote is in words only. More can and must be done beyond enforcing the minimum requirements of the Security Council resolutions. Many allies and partners of the US have joined our campaign, going beyond mere compliance with the Security Council resolutions. We ask these nations to further increase pressure through unilateral actions. We particularly call on Russia and China to increase pressure. Continuing to allow North Korea laborers to toil under slave-like conditions inside Russia, in exchange for wages used to fund nuclear programs, calls into questions Russia’s position as a partner for peace. Similarly, as Chinese oil continues to flow into North Korea, The US questions China’s dedication to solving this issue. All options remain on the table in defense of our nation. But we do not seek or want war with North Korea. The US will use all necessary measures to defend ourselves against North Korea. North Korea must earn its way back to the [negotiating] table. The pressure campaign must and will continue until denuclearization is achieved. We will in the mean time keep our channels open." Earn its way back is different that "no preconditions." More on this to follow.
