Although ASEAN states are wary of punitive measures and excessive pressure, there are several non-controversial areas in which they could focus efforts, namely on the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. In particular, enhanced vigilance towards North Korean diplomats, officials and their related finances should remain a key emphasis for states in the region. The need to ensure domestic legislation is in place to prosecute those guilty of evading UN sanctions is also prescient. The Singaporean prosecution of a firm involved in the case of the Chong Chon Gang – a North Korean vessel containing banned military hardware indicted en route to Cuba by Panamanian authorities – was successfully appealed and overturned, setting back counter-proliferation efforts.
Engagement remains important in resolving the North Korean situation, but requires reciprocity. At this stage, there are no signs that Kim Jong-un is interested in dialogue, hence the emphasis on punitive measures. Even South Korean President Moon Jae-in, elected with a mandate to establish a channel of communication with Pyongyang, has admitted that the timing is not right to seriously consider dialogue, opting instead to build pressure to force Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table.
For ASEAN members, which have largely avoided proactive involvement, finding the correct balance between punishment and engagement will remain challenging. Following the murder of Kim Jong-nam on Malaysian soil, however, it has become harder for the region to ignore the situation. There is a growing recognition that if tensions continue to escalate, the risk of destabilisation also increases, which is not in the interest of ASEAN members. The policies available are not new, but they require universal implementation to have a chance of working.（From the 2017 IISS Shangri-La Voices blog） |
