US threatens North Korea with ruinous economic stranglehold By Andrew Buncombe in Washington 30 December 2002 The Bush administration is preparing to enforce an economic and political stranglehold on North Korea after deciding against an immediate military response to the nuclear weap-ons crisis. Washington is also seeking to open back-channel discussions with Pyongyang. Under the plan, America could seek economic sanctions through the UN, which could bring the impoverished Communist country to its knees, and the US military could intercept North Korean missile shipments to other countries. North Korea's neighbours could be pressed to cut economic ties. "It is called...