When the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1718 on October 14, it agreed to impose economic sanctions against North Korea for testing a nuclear device earlier in the month. The resolution condemned the atomic test, demanded that the DPRK conduct no further tests or ballistic missile launches, and called upon all United Nations member states to stop the trade of various weapons systems, luxury goods, and certain technologies with North Korea.Of course, the communist dictatorship of Kim Jong-Il immediately rejected the resolution and threatened war on nations imposing economic sanctions on the DPRK. Why the bellicose rhetoric? Because North Korea knows that the sanctions resolution is more show than actual punishment, and the provisions of Resolution 1718 will be selectively enforced.Almost as soon as the resolution was passed, the Chinese government stated that it would not participate in the inspection of cargo entering and exiting North Korea. After some diplomatic prodding from the United States, China began limited checks of North Korean trucks crossing its border, but has thus far not agreed to inspect cargo ships transiting the waters in the region.China is hesitant to enforce tough sanctions on North Korea because the threat of regional instability from a…