1. Why did the U.S., Japan and South Korea call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday?

2. What steps did the U.S. ask China and the UN to take?

3. Why must China take more responsibility with sanctions on North Korea?

4. a) What statement did Ambassador Haley make about war with North Korea?
b) Watch the first video clip under “Resources” from Nikki Haley’s speech at the Security Council. What is your reaction to this assurance?

5. What did the following members of the U.N. Security Council say about North Korea’s missile tests and imposing sanctions against the rogue regime?
a) UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft
b) Japan’s Ambassador Koro Bessho
c) France’s Ambassador Francois Delattre
d) Italy’s Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi

6. China’s Deputy Ambassador Wu Haito had a different view on dealing with North Korea (see para. 21).

Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia added to the Security Council's condemnation, saying, "Russia does not accept the claims of the DPRK for obtaining the status of a nuclear power… At the same time, it is obvious to us that there is no military solution to the problems of the Korean Peninsula... in the current situation, we urge all parties involved to end the escalation of tension.” He then re-introduced the proposal made by Russia and China for a "double freezing" in which North Korea suspends testing and the U.S. and South Korea reduce the "scope and intensity" of joint military exercises, which, he said "would open the way for a discussion of the principles of peaceful coexistence between Washington and Pyongyang and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue."

Through the two terms each of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, dialogue, discussions, and negotiations in the “Six Party Talks” utterly failed in preventing North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles necessary to deploy them.

The Trump administration is taking a much tougher approach - and most notably persuading even Russia and China to impose more sanctions against North Korea than they have ever done. President Trump refers to Kim Jong Un as “Little Rocket Man” - and his ultimate goal is to force North Korea to completely denuclearize. Trump’s opponents, including some Republican politicians and commentators (who are embarrassed by his manner of speaking) blame the president for causing Kim Jong Un’s belligerence.

Watch Ambassador Haley’s speech at the emergency Security Council meeting (see the video under "Resources" below) and discuss with a parent:  Do you think the Trump administration’s strategy will succeed? or do you think President Trump should try the same approach of negotiations with North Korea that the previous presidents did?  Please explain your answers.