This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/unique-conflict-with-north-korea-keeps-us-land-mines-along-border/2014/09/23/9de97d2a-4320-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| ‘Unique’ conflict with North Korea keeps U.S. land mines along border | ‘Unique’ conflict with North Korea keeps U.S. land mines along border |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The United States will limit its use of anti-personnel mines to the Korean peninsula and destroy its other stockpiles, but cannot yet support a total ban because of the “unique circumstances” of the tensions with North Korea, U.S. officials said Tuesday. | The United States will limit its use of anti-personnel mines to the Korean peninsula and destroy its other stockpiles, but cannot yet support a total ban because of the “unique circumstances” of the tensions with North Korea, U.S. officials said Tuesday. |
| State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki described the move as a “significant step forward” toward eliminating land mines, which have been blamed by rights groups for widespread injuries to civilians and others in areas such as former war zones. | State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki described the move as a “significant step forward” toward eliminating land mines, which have been blamed by rights groups for widespread injuries to civilians and others in areas such as former war zones. |
| But the U.S. refusal to sign an international treaty banning land mines has come under criticism as giving political cover for other nations to stay out such as China, Russia and Israel. | |
| Psaki said the United States “remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian effects of antipersonnel land mines” and will destroy U.S. stockpiles not needed to support ally South Korea. She also said U.S. officials would not assist other nations to produce or acquire anti-personnel mines. | |
| The National Security Council spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden, said the confrontations with North Korea still require mines on the heavily guarded border with the south. | The National Security Council spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden, said the confrontations with North Korea still require mines on the heavily guarded border with the south. |
| “Even as we take these further steps, the unique circumstances on the Korean peninsula and our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea preclude us from changing our anti-personnel landmine policy there at this time,” she said. | “Even as we take these further steps, the unique circumstances on the Korean peninsula and our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea preclude us from changing our anti-personnel landmine policy there at this time,” she said. |
| Psaki said Washington has provided more than $2.3 billion since 1993 to more than 90 countries to help destroy conventional weapons, including land mines. | Psaki said Washington has provided more than $2.3 billion since 1993 to more than 90 countries to help destroy conventional weapons, including land mines. |