Daily Times

North Korea has done it again. In a blatant and utter disregard to a series of resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council imposing sanctions against it for continuing with its nuclear and missile development programmes and export of ballistic missile technology, North Korea, on September 7, 2016 detonated an underground hydrogen bomb, the second of the tests conducted this year. It has also conducted 17 ballistic missile tests so far; the latest was test-fired from a submarine. North Korea has pushed the entire North Asia into a maelstrom.

Sadly, the UN has once again failed to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Added to this, the country is headed by Kim Jong-un, a leader known for his eccentricity and idiosyncrasies. He has been accused of large-scale human rights violations, and for liquidating his detractors merely on whims.

President Barack Obama recently warned North Korea to face consequences for disregarding the UN resolutions, and threatened to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea, which was dismissed by the latter as “laughable.” China, which is the biggest trading partner of North Korea, has also criticised North Korea for violating the moratorium imposed on development of nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, North Korea has refused to listen to China’s counsel, knowing full well that China would not go the distance in imposing economic sanctions, as China views the country as a perfect foil to the US efforts of arming South Korea. It has recently accused the US that by deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), it will only threaten security, stability and peace in the region.

Both the United Nations and the United States are putting pressure on China to use its influence on North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, as China is the only country that has good relations with it. China realises that if it imposes sanctions against it, it may trigger an imminent collapse of North Korea’s economy, as China is its largest exporter of oil, food items and arms. Furthermore, it may lead to instability forcing tens and thousands of North Koreans to flee to China. It would be, therefore, unrealistic to expect China to completely sever its relations with North Korea. There is another important reason for China’s reluctance to go the distance, as it fears any misstep on its part could lead to the collapse of the government, forcing tens and thousands of North Koreans fleeing to China.

The biggest challenge for the United Nations today is to explore ways to stop North Korea from violating its resolutions, as a nuclear North Korea has made the entire North Asia volatile. It is for this reason that there is an urgent need to usher reforms in the UN to make it more effective in dealing with various crises.

Unfortunately, the UN, as it stands today, seems totally incapable of reining in rogue countries like North Korea, Iran and others. One remembers that there was a time from 1940s through 1960s when countries took the organisation seriously, as they did not want the UN to refer issues concerning territorial disputes or human rights violation brought before the Security Council. Today, more and more countries are even refusing to acknowledge its existence, as they have realised that the UN has become a powerless organisation unable to stop countries from excesses, like what we saw in the Middle East, Africa, and more egregiously in Crimea, which was forcibly annexed by Russia.

If the UN has to be reckoned as the force that was from 1940s to 1960s, some immediate reforms have to be brought in its functioning. Today, only five permanent members of the Security Council have a vise-like grip over it, as time and again they have successfully thwarted all its actions by exercising their veto. There is, therefore, an urgent need to induct more members in the council to break the monopoly of a few countries.

Secondly, in order to make the organisation democratic, transparent and accountable, the sole veto of current permanent members should give way to a consensus decision of the majority. This will facilitate the UN to take proper steps in deciding on matters relating to international security and peace.

Whilst addressing the UN General Assembly on the Russian annexation of Crimea, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko — pointing out that the present veto system make it difficult for the organisation to solve issues especially relating to forcible annexation of territories like in Crimea — said, “In every democratic country if someone has stolen your property, an independent court will restore justice in order to protect your rights, and punish the offender. However, we must recognise that in the 21st century our organisation lacks an effective instrument to bring to justice an aggressor country that has stolen the territory of another sovereign state.”

Another concern is that all the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are the five of the top seven largest arms exporting countries in the world, and their decisions are driven by self-interest. One prime example is China’s reluctance to rein in North Korea.

One must credit many of the UN organisations for their yeoman service in the field of poverty alleviation programmes, health, child protection and women’s empowerment programmes. In addition, they have also sent peacekeeping forces in war-torn areas. It would, therefore, be unfair to discredit the organisation.

In these troubled times, we require a strong UN that can play a constructive role in ensuring peace and stability in many war-torn areas, and also bring major powers together to prevent escalation of conflicts. If the UN is allowed to function independently, without the five Security Council members using their veto in indefensible issues, the UN can be effective in enforcing its mandate. If, on the other hand, it is weakened or made dysfunctional, we will soon be faced with a situation of dealing with upheaval, chaos and political unrest across the globe, a prospect that must be avoided at all costs.

The writer is a freelance columnist and political commentator based in India