[Editorial] Unbearable pain

The US is putting pressure on North Korea on several fronts, including military deterrence.

Such efforts should be expedited and encourage other members of the international community to follow suit.

Real deterrence against the North -- which even threatens a nuclear strike on the continental US -- should involve Washington and its allies South Korea and Japan making sure the fanatic rogues in Pyongyang do not even consider such provocations.

The US, which sent B1-B supersonic bombers to South Korea in response to the North’s fifth nuclear test earlier this month, is taking further steps to strengthen deterrence against the North. 

US officials said they would deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense advanced anti-missile system to South Korea “on an accelerated basis” and “as soon as possible.” They have also reaffirmed the nuclear umbrella commitment to South Korea.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter specifically said that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with “an overwhelming and effective response.”

“North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations underscore that a diverse and dynamic spectrum of nuclear threats still exists, so our deterrence must be credible and extended to our allies in the region,” Carter said during a visit Monday to the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, which maintains an arsenal of nuclear missiles.

“It starts with the umbrella of deterrence you provide from Minot, supporting conventional forces like our air assets and our troops standing guard 24/7 on the Korean Peninsula to deter attack against our allies,” Carter said.

As Carter emphasized, the US needs to work with allies to “innovate and operate in new ways” to address nuclear deterrence challenges posed by North Korea.

Another key pillar of international efforts to rein in the Kim regime is punishing it for its nuclear and missile provocations to a degree it cannot withstand. 

The US is setting a good example in this area too. Most noteworthy is its landmark decision to blacklist a Chinese firm and four executives, including its owner.

The Justice Department also “unsealed criminal charges against” Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. and its executives for “conspiring to evade US economic sanctions, violating US regulations on sanctions against weapons of mass destruction proliferators as well as for conspiracy to launder money instruments.”

These actions -- the first ever taken directly against a Chinese firm and individuals -- can be taken as a loose form of a “secondary boycott” and they might well scare other Chinese firms. A previous UN report has pointed out that there were tens of firms in China engaged in illegal business with North Korea.

There are more actions in the making. US officials said they were working with South Korea and Japan to cut off sources of income for North Korea, including coal trade and labor exports.

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, also said Washington is discussing with partners about tightening financial pressure on Pyongyang to deny it access to the international banking infrastructure.

It was part of these internationally coordinated efforts that the British government decided to effectively deport two London-based officials of North Korea’s state insurance firm by refusing to renew their visas.

US officials said that they are working to enlist not only individual countries but also multilateral organizations -- such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization -- to punish the North. So far, the international community is seen working well to make the North realize that it will soon be dealing with a different international community.