AFP: UN adopts tougher NKorea sanctions

AFP: UN adopts tougher NKorea sanctions

Despite the title, the UN again shows it is a toothless wonder.

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to slap tougher sanctions on North Korea to cripple its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Washington hailed Friday's measure, but warned that Pyongyang might respond with "further provocation."



All 15 Security Council members endorsed a compromise resolution sponsored by Britain, France, Japan, South Korea and the United States to punish the Stalinist state for its missile firings and May 25 underground nuclear test.

Resolution 1874, which does not authorise the use of force, calls on UN member states to expand sanctions first imposed on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006.

It calls for tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo with the exception of light weapons, and new targeted financial restrictions to choke off an important source of revenue for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile sectors.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the resolution sent a "clear and strong message" to Pyongyang.

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said from Washington that "based on past experience and a pattern that North Korea has of reckless and dangerous actions, it would not be a surprise if North Korea reacted to this very tough sanctions regime in a fashion that would be further provocation."

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, whose country feels the most threatened by the North Korean actions, said: "We demand North Korea take seriously the international community's unbending message in the resolution and comply with it."

The compromise resolution "condemns in the strongest terms" the North Korean nuclear test and "demands that the DPRK (North Korea) not conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology."

It declares that Pyongyang "shall abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and immediately cease all related activities."

But US intelligence officials have reportedly warned President Barack Obama that Pyongyang intends to respond to a UN resolution condemning its actions with another nuclear test.

Asked how the Council would react to any new North Korean test, Britain's UN deputy ambassador Philip Parham said: "We would take it badly. But we can't speculate now" on the Council response.

A key question will be whether China, which maintains close economic ties with Pyongyang, will seriously implement the sanctions.

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "the Chinese and Russians have greater concern about the risk of provoking North Korea" and moved to dilute some of the mandatory measures sought by the United States and its allies.

China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui told reporters after the vote that the issue of cargo inspections is "very complicated and sensitive."

"The countries concerned have to act prudently in accordance with international and domestic laws" and with "sufficient evidence," he noted. "Under no circumstances should there be the use of force or the threat of use of force."

Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin also underscored that the resolution "does not provide for the use of military force" in implementing the sanctions.

Rice, meanwhile, said Washington would step up efforts to gather information to determine whether a vessel on the high seas is carrying suspect cargo and would try to immediately pass it on to all states concerned.

"If a vessel is designated as one we're concerned about, we are prepared to confront that vessel and seek to board it consensually," she added.

The resolution gives 30 days to a UN sanctions panel to extend a list of North Korean entities, goods and individuals to be subjected to an assets freeze and travel ban decreed in a 2006 resolution.

South Korea welcomed tougher the sanctions Saturday, urging the communist state to abolish all of its nuclear programmes.

"The government welcomes and supports the unanimous adoption of additional sanctions against North Korea by the UN Security Council," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement.

In Japan news reports Saturday said the government was planning to impose a total ban on exports to North Korea

Meanwhile, on the ground, South Korean military officials said hundreds of more Marines had been dispatched to its tense border with the North.