The recent UN resolution 2371 passed against North Korea imposing tough measures is expected to impact the country’s export revenue stream in the most negative way. I sincerely hope North Korea realises how provocative actions their actions are. They are disturbing not only the regional peace but also the worldwide initiatives that work towards defusing the nuclear arm race globally. Perhaps, this is the only nation today that continues breaking all norms associated with nuclear non-proliferation. It is being described by theorists as one of the “rogue states”, due to its senseless actions.

The world governments consider North Korea as an oppressive state that stifle the freedom of its own people and cripples their financial sources. Recently an American student tourist died after being evacuated to the US, following his arrest last year, by the North Korean regime. He was allegedly being disrespectful to the state’s flag. There were reports that the student was badly beaten up by North Korean police until he took seriously ill before falling into a state of coma.

The attempts by US government to get the student released from North Korea didn’t prove to be of much help. It was only when the student’s condition deteriorated badly that North Korea agreed to his release. A US chartered plane helped the student travel to his homeland with a medical team accompanying him. The whole episode irked Trump, he condemned the North Korean administration for their cruel treatment of one of the US citizens.

The on-going provocative actions by North Korea has not only put China, considered a strong ally, in a very difficult position but also has it worry over the growing US military presence in the region. Russia too is starting to feel North Korea as being a liability with their unbridled missile tests that they claim can reach up to mainland US. The issue has become a political disaster for both China and Russia.

The UN sanction which was unanimously passed appears to have hit the bull’s eye as evident by the anger expressed by Pyongyang. The regime warned the US will pay dearly for its meddling in the sovereignty of an independent state. It was a rare event when both China and Russia cast the vote in favour of the sanction by UN against North Korea.

If news reports are anything to go by, Kim Jong Un has no intention of slowing down with his ambitions, for him it is business as usual. Although many doubt the claims of Kim about his country’s capability of launching missiles, US does not seem to be taking a chance. Perhaps the new UN sanction is just a start, and soon many other measures are likely to follow.

- The reader is an engineer based in Dubai