UN’s Big Five should first disarm themselves

THE UN security council’s condemnation of the apparent underground nuclear test in North Korea was to be expected.

However, it seems hypocritical that France as one of the Big Five would join in the chorus of disdain from the four other members — who are nuclear powers themselves.

In 1996, France, under the presidency of Jacques Chirac, carried out the testing of nuclear weapons to much criticism and a temporary embargo on French wine. What punishment!

North Korea, meanwhile, will surely end in military action.

Targeted sanctions set out by the US have been advised with a view to seeing them brought under chapter seven of the UN charter.

This means if the North Koreans do not comply, they will be subject to military action.

That North Korea is a different case to France is not the point. Nuclear disarmament should be carried out by all UN states — security council members and others. I can see the flaw. Why disarm and then become a sitting duck for any maverick nation? Well, surely a compromise can be reached.

If North Korea were to disarm say half of their arsenal following the example set by security council members, that at least would be a start. The only problem is that according to the National Resources Defence Council — a New York-based non-profit environmental group — this would leave North Korea with approximately five warheads compared to over 5.5 million each for Russia and the US, and over 650 between the remaining three UN security council members.

It’s a possibility, but it’s hard to see North Korea going into a battle they can’t win. So maybe it’s time UN security council members looked at themselves before preaching.

Brian Strahan

Palmer Road

Rush

Co Dublin