Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-unReuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the coming days to discuss the North Korea nuclear crisis.

Arutz Sheva spoke with Hilly Moodrick, an expert on international law at the Sha'arei Mishpat Legal College, about North Korea's crimes and how to deal with them .

According to Moodrick, "The very use of nuclear weapons, and force at all, is a violation of international law. One of the foundations of international law is the prohibition against using force, and prohibition of threatening to use force."

"Obviously," she points out, "this does not include self-defense or those who have received permission from the United Nations Security Council to use weapons for self-defense and not in order to attack."

Moodrick also explained that each threat needs to be examined on its own.

"Not every threat is considered a violation of international law," she explained. "It's important to emphasize that even if a threat violates international law, the response needs to be proportional and legitimate, and remain within the boundaries of self-defense. You cannot simply begin firing over every threat."

Regarding North Korea, Moodrick believes that firing test missiles, holding nuclear experiments, and harsh words call for a response.

"There should probably be a response," Moodrick explained, quickly adding that "history and reality have taught that the Security Council will not rush to allow an attack, since they prefer to use sanctions."

Countries threatened by North Korea can "work independently or request the US aid their collective self-defense. International law allows an attacked country to request aid from another country, and the second country can provide this aid even if they themselves are not threatened. Providing aid to a third country is a legitimate reason to become involved in a conflict."

However, if the US chooses not to support the Security Council's sanctions on North Korea, "not much" can be done, "since the US is one of the Council's five members."

The US submitted a resolution to the UN Security Council demanding, among other things, an oil embargo on North Korea and a freeze on the foreign assets of its leader Kim Jong-Un.