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Analysis of UN Resolutions Relating to North Korea: A Comparison with Resolutions Relating to the Second Gulf War

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Abstract

This work attempts to understand whether it is possible to talk about the emergence of specific recurring linguistic patterns in UN resolutions, used as a political strategy. The paper presents a comparative analysis between a corpus of resolutions related to the Second Gulf War and to the 2011 North Korean nuclear crisis, focussing on ethic adjectives and preambulatory and operative phrases used in these resolutions. It is attempted to show how vague and weak expressions can be used either to lead to intentionally biased interpretations of the law as was supposed in the Iraqi case, or to mitigate international tensions, though maintaining a firm position against international threats, as supposed for North Korea.

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Notes

  1. For further information on the use of linguistic patterns as a political strategy in UN resolutions concerning the second Gulf War, see [11, 12].

  2. 2 Source: http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/print/20020129-11.html (Last accessed: October 2013).

  3. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5184112.stm (Last accessed: October 2013).

  4. Source: DPRK Foreign Ministry Refutes "Resolution of UN Security Council". (Last accessed: October 2013).

  5. Source: http://camun.weebly.com/uploads/9/6/0/9/9609709/sc_north_korea.pdf (Last accessed: October 2013).

  6. Source: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/10/weve-underestimated-them-new-sense-of-urgency-about-north-koreas-nuclear-pursuits/. (Last accessed: October 2013).

  7. Ibidem.

  8. Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2002-01-29/politics/bush.speech.txt_1_firefighter-returns-terrorist-training-camps-interim-leader?s=PM:ALLPOLITICS. (Last accessed: October 2013).

  9. Ibidem.

  10. Source: DPRK Foreign Ministry Refutes "Resolution of UN Security Council". (Last accessed: October 2013).

  11. Cf. [11, 12].

  12. Source: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/publications/article.cfm?id=1385&cat=ideas-opinions (Last accessed: October 2013).

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  1. Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppina Scotto di Carlo

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  1. Giuseppina Scotto di Carlo
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di Carlo, G.S. Analysis of UN Resolutions Relating to North Korea: A Comparison with Resolutions Relating to the Second Gulf War. Int J Semiot Law 27, 665–685 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-013-9334-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-013-9334-9

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