North Korean Nuclear Tests

North Korea tested a long range nuclear rocket over the weekend, following talks last Wednesday between President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about reducing their countries' nuclear stockpiles. This act violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which prohibits North Korea from manipulating ballistic missile technologies. It was adopted unanimously in October 2006 as a result of claims that the country had performed successful nuclear tests in the beginning of the month.

Members of the United Nations Security Council convened Sunday to discuss the event but were unable to give an official response due to Chinese and Russian resistance. Department of State Press Secretary Robert Wood said Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has since been in contact with the council's permanent members to negotiate a "strong, coordinated and effective response."

Following the launch, President Obama called for the immediate ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty , which has been previously blocked by the Senate. He also announced yesterday that in addition to working towards a reduction in warheads in the US and Russia, he may provide the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with the authority it has lacked. Strengthening the treaty will ensure that in the event of a violation, offending actors face swift, strong international sanctions. In conclusion, the President stated: "I'm not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly ' perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we . . . must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, 'Yes, we can'."