Sanctions started when North Korea threatens U.S. military

This weekend, the U.S. and South Korea were playing war games which caused North Korea to threaten a “physical response”. Earlier this year, North Korea sunk a South Korean warship and also has a nuclear program that are both expected to hurt the North Korean economy. Source for this article – North Korea threatens U.S. military exercises as sanctions mount by Personal Money Store.

'Grave threat’ used by North Korea to describe the U.S. games

North Korea issued its threats as about 8,000 military personnel from the U.S. and South Korea gear up for joint military exercises beginning this weekend. ”Another example of a hostile policy” against North Korea was what Ri Tong Il, North Korean spokesman, called it, reports CNN. The entire Asian region will most likely be hurt by this according to Ri Tong Il. The military exercise, dubbed “Invincible Spirit,” is scheduled to run from July 25 to July 28.

Military exercises a response to Cheonan sinking

North Korea’s saber-rattling toward the U.S./South Korean military drills raised the level of tension that was already high in the region. The newest threat has come just four months following the Cheonan sinking which killed 46 sailors, reports the Associated Press. An international investigation has determined that North Korea is culpable, but its government fiercely denies any involvement. Now we see North Korea’s familiar belligerence, and also the U.S. has decided that there will be no more talks with the north.

North Korean Sanctions created to stop bad leaders

North Korea will be cut off by the U.S. because of a program announced by Hilary Clinton in July to stop good being sent. 200 North Korean bank accounts connected to nuclear weapons development, drug trafficking and counterfeiting could be sanctioned, reports the Guardian. The South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo said North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il is believed to have stashed a $4 billion slush fund in secret accounts in Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

Worried North Korean leaders

North Korean leaders are desperate so they continue to threaten the U.S. and South Korea. Voice of America reports that North Korea is already suffering from poor harvests, a manufacturing slump, U.S. sanctions and a reduction of international aid. Analysts warn that a famine could ensue comparable to the 1990’s when hundreds of thousands of North Koreans died from starvation or disease. Intense famine could lead the North Korean government to respond with harsher restrictions on the already destitute masses in one of the world’s poorest, most isolated nations.

Additional info at these websites

CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/north.korea.threat/index.html?npt=NP1
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/north-korea-threatens-physical-response
Voice of America
voanews.com/english/news/Sanctions-Expected-to-Harm-North-Korean-Economy-99090344.html?refresh=1