North Korea: NATO War in Libya Proves Disarming Is Unwise

Fears 'Tragic Consequences' If They Abandon Their Own Program

Addressing their recent nuclear weapons test and international demands that they abandon the program unconditionally, North Korea has issued a new statement citing Libya as an example of why that’s a really bad idea.

Libya abandoned its nuclear program in 2003 as part of an effort to improve relations with Western nations. Though US and other officials gave lip-service to the idea of improved ties, by 2011 NATO was attacking Libya, imposing regime change in the nation.

North Korea’s statement termed that the “tragic consequences” of abandoning a nuclear program that is partially finished, insisting that keeping the program intact is the safer choice.

The US has pushed sanctions against North Korea for the recent test, but the reality is that the nation is already so isolated that any sanctions would be extremely limited. The US had, after all, already cut off food aid to North Korea nearly a year prior. North Korea has informed China of its intention to conduct additional tests.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.