Stephen Lendman

In an article ahead of the September 3 - 5 BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, titled “BRICS: Toward New Horizons of Strategic Partnership,” he stressed the importance of continuing the battle against terrorists in Syria and other countries, stressing:

“Russia calls for going over from debates to the practical creation of a broad counterterrorism front based on international law and led by the UN. Naturally, we highly appreciate the support and assistance of our BRICS partners in this respect.”

The risk of potentially catastrophic war on the Korean peninsula weighed on his mind, saying:

“I have to say a few words about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, where tensions have grown recently and the situation is balancing on the brink of a large-scale conflict.”

“Russia believes that the policy of putting pressure on Pyongyang to stop its nuclear missile program is misguided and futile.”

“The region’s problems should only be settled through a direct dialogue of all the parties concerned without any preconditions. Provocations, pressure and militarist and insulting rhetoric are a dead-end road.”

Russia and China created a “roadmap” for resolving contentious issues on the peninsula, he explained - a way to ease tension and create an environment for peace and stability.

Provocative US, South Korean and Japanese military exercises heighten tensions. Pyongyang believes its nuclear and ballistic missile programs are essential for self-defense.

Multiple rounds of harsh sanctions accomplished nothing toward resolving things. Nor will more sanctions.

Pyongyang genuinely fears possible US aggression - why it won’t abandon its most effective deterrent.

Russia and China are right. The only solution is diplomatic resolution. Washington rejects it, choosing saber rattling and threats instead - risking possible catastrophic nuclear war on the peninsula, devastating for the region if launched.

Would Trump risk the unthinkable? Given his rage for endless wars, anything is possible.

A Final Comment

In response to the latest Security Council criticism of its ballistic missile tests, along with provocative US/South Korean military exercises just concluded, the DPRK’s UN envoy in Geneva, Han Tae Song said:

“Now that the US has openly declared its hostile intention towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea…my country has every reason to respond with tough countermeasures as an exercise of its right to self-defense.”

North Korea’s KCNA news agency said its military intends more ballistic missile tests, citing its right of self-defense against possible US aggression.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said resolving issues peacefully on the peninsula “lie in the hands of Pyongyang and Washington, and also Pyongyang and Seoul.”

Diplomacy is the only solution. Sanctions and harsh rhetoric don’t work. Was is unthinkable. What’s coming is anyone’s guess.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
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