[kc311v2]

Out of fear from this possibly turning into a political debate, I posted this news in the political forum.

Full story here.

The US has banned exports of iPods, fine wines and fast cars to North Korea as part of the punishment for the country's nuclear bomb test last year.

I guess this means they'll just have to order them online from the Canadian store (iPods that is).

[analogika]

That won't do them any good.

Because the ban on luxury articles is actually a UN sanction, decided in October, and designed to hurt the government elite in North Korea.

(In fact, it even says so in the article: "The United Nations banned the sale of luxury goods to North Korea in response to its nuclear test on 9 October, but left individual countries to define those items.")

[Zeeb]

Originally Posted by analogika 

That won't do them any good.

Because the ban on luxury articles is actually a UN sanction, decided in October, and designed to hurt the government elite in North Korea.

(In fact, it even says so in the article: "The United Nations banned the sale of luxury goods to North Korea in response to its nuclear test on 9 October, but left individual countries to define those items.")

Somehow I doubt this ban would keep "elite" classes in NK from getting luxury goods. If they are truly elite that probably means they are capable of traveling outside the country. They could probably pick up an ipod or bottle of cognac there.

Since its a "U.N." ban they probably won't even have to do that.

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by Zeeb 

Somehow I doubt this ban would keep "elite" classes in NK from getting luxury goods. If they are truly elite that probably means they are capable of traveling outside the country. They could probably pick up an ipod or bottle of cognac there.

Since its a "U.N." ban they probably won't even have to do that.

It's the problem with putting sanctions on abusive governments. If anything, they're an incentive to the government to become even more abusive, because if they stop their abuses, only then will they actually suffer any hardship from the sanctions.

In other words, they're a nice idea, but the theory behind their application is fatally flawed.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Millennium 

It's the problem with putting sanctions on abusive governments. If anything, they're an incentive to the government to become even more abusive

How do you figure a ban on luxury items will have that consequence?

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Zeeb 

Since its a "U.N." ban they probably won't even have to do that.

No no, didn't you read the thread title?

It's a "US" ban, as well - which means it's God's Right Thing™ and will effectively reduce them to gibbering vegetables with its Shock and Awe™.

[Zeeb]

Originally Posted by analogika 

No no, didn't you read the thread title?

It's a "US" ban, as well - which means it's God's Right Thing™ and will effectively reduce them to gibbering vegetables with its Shock and Awe™.

How could I have missed that? I'm sure they are being shocked and awed as we speak and will concede to our demands--lest they have no valid applecare on their ipods!

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by analogika 

How do you figure a ban on luxury items will have that consequence?

They will still have access to those items; they will merely have to resort to the black market. This drives up the prices for luxury items, of course, and the money to do this has to come from somewhere. For almost any government out there, the most ready source of money is the people, and North Korea is no exception. The money will be taken from there, either directly through taxation or indirectly by shunting even more of the foreign aid North Korea gets back toward the government.

Honestly, if you want to really hurt North Korea, you need to ratchet back the necessities, things North Korea has the resources to produce on its own but has swindled the world into providing for it. Until we stop falling for this scam, they're just going to keep on doing what they're doing now, because it works for the people in power.

[turtle777]

Pfff, guess who's still exporting: the Chinese. You can't stop them from supporting NKorea in any way possible. Nuke em all.

-t

[analogika]

Actually, the Chinese are enforcing this, as well.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by kc311v2 

I guess this means they'll just have to order them online from the Canadian store (iPods that is).

Heh. I can't even order from the US Apple Store and I'm in Canada, and vice versa.

[Kerrigan]

Haha, I guess the elite will have to settle for Super Tangents and IPod Tiny's.

[Eug]

[Kerrigan]

No, I'm afraid even North Koreans don't want that.

[macintologist]

"fast cars".... hahahahaha

If Kim wanted a "fast car" he wouldn't be buying American

[Kerrigan]

American cars are fast, they just don't handle turns as well as ze Europeans.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by analogika 

Actually, the Chinese are enforcing this, as well.

Rrrrrright. I trust the Chinese will do to the best of their ability

-t