Pyongyang has proven its nuclear doggedness. In spite of tremendous international criticism that puts North Korea in a pariah state, it has gone ahead to test nuclear and ballistic missile weapons. Add to that is its ‘nuclear technology proliferation to terrorist-supporting states,’ plus its mounting human-rights abuses.

Those opposed to North Korea’s ever-heightening nuclear capability are starting to level financial sanctions against the country to pressure the communist regime to renounce its nuclear weapons programs.

The actions are concrete. ‘The U.S. is focusing, for now, on financial sanctions. On June 30, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of an Iranian company that provided support to a North Korean bank involved in proliferation. The U.S. State Department also took action that day against a trading company for its involvement in North Korea’s nuclear proliferation network. But far more promising are actions reportedly planned by the Treasury against 17 banks and companies involved in North Korea’s proliferation enterprise.’

The move towards the denuclearization of North Korea should be armed with a stronger policy based on multilateral pressure. After all, the communist government in Pyongyang has reneged more than once on its ‘predictably false promises’ to disarm. The key to the ultimate objective of North Korea denuclearization is dismantling the regime that runs the country, or at least crippling it financially. ‘Ultimately the threat posed by North Korea will not be relieved until the nature of the regime changes.’

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Via The Wall Street Journal