 The U.S. is stepping up pressure on North Korea by launching a taskforce to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1874. The interagency taskforce to enforce sanctions against North Korea was launched Friday to coordinate actions with other nations in implementing the UN resolution, including searches of outbound North Korean ships and aircraft and international financial sanctions.
U.S. President Barack Obama appointed former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg to lead the team, sending him to China in the near future to discuss sanctions on the North. That brings to three the Obama administration's envoys of some description on North Korean affairs.
| Brilliant, simply brilliant ... |
In the early days of his presidency, Obama had two, with Stephen Bosworth named special representative for North Korean policy, in addition to U.S. special envoy on North Korean affairs Sung Kim. Bosworth was apparently to look after general issues and Kim as chief U.S. nuclear negotiator for the six-party talks.
Goldberg will take part in the making of North Korea policies alongside Bosworth, Kim, and Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, who was recently approved by the Senate. Whether the responsibilities of the four will overlap and lead to confusion remains to be seen.
| Confusion? Almost certainly. Political infighting and scheming? Absolutely. |
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