UN Security Council hits N Korea with more sanctions
8 March 2013 6:58 AM IST
In response to North Korea's third nuclear test, the U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to tighten financial restrictions on Pyongyang and crack down on its attempts to ship and receive banned cargo in breach of U.N. sanctions.
The U.S.-drafted resolution, approved unanimously by the 15-nation council, was the product of three weeks of negotiations between the United States and China after North Korea's 12 February nuclear test.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a former South Korean foreign minister, said the resolution ‘sent an unequivocal message to (North Korea) that the international community will not tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons.’
The resolution specifies some luxury items North Korea’s elite is not allowed to import, such as yachts, racing cars, luxury automobiles and certain types of jewelry. This is intended to close a loophole that previously allowed countries to decide for themselves what constitutes a luxury good.
The export of luxury goods to North Korea has been prohibited since 2006, though diplomats and analysts say the enforcement of U.N. sanctions has been uneven. The resolution is intended to bring the North Korea sanctions regime more in line with tough U.N. measures in place against Iran, and the council expressed the gravest concern at the nuclear tests.
FURIOUS AT FRESH CURBS, PYONGYANG VOWS TO NUKE UN ‘MASTER’ AMERICA
North Korea on Thursday vowed to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States, amplifying its threatening rhetoric hours ahead of a vote by UN diplomats on whether to level new sanctions against Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test. An unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said the North will exercise its right for ‘pre-emptive nuclear strikes on the headquarters of the aggressors’ because Washington is pushing to start a nuclear war against the North.
Although North Korea boasts of nuclear bombs and pre-emptive strikes, it is not thought to have mastered the ability to produce a warhead small enough to put on a missile capable of reaching the US It is believed to have enough nuclear fuel, however, for a handful of crude nuclear devices.
Such inflammatory rhetoric is common from North Korea, but it has been coming regularly in recent days. North Korea is angry over the possible sanctions and over upcoming US-South Korean military drills.
The UN Security Council is set to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Pyongyang in a fresh attempt to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current council president, said the council will vote on the draft sanctions resolution today morning. The resolution was drafted by the United States and China, North Korea’s closest ally.
The U.S.-drafted resolution, approved unanimously by the 15-nation council, was the product of three weeks of negotiations between the United States and China after North Korea's 12 February nuclear test.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a former South Korean foreign minister, said the resolution ‘sent an unequivocal message to (North Korea) that the international community will not tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons.’
The resolution specifies some luxury items North Korea’s elite is not allowed to import, such as yachts, racing cars, luxury automobiles and certain types of jewelry. This is intended to close a loophole that previously allowed countries to decide for themselves what constitutes a luxury good.
The export of luxury goods to North Korea has been prohibited since 2006, though diplomats and analysts say the enforcement of U.N. sanctions has been uneven. The resolution is intended to bring the North Korea sanctions regime more in line with tough U.N. measures in place against Iran, and the council expressed the gravest concern at the nuclear tests.
FURIOUS AT FRESH CURBS, PYONGYANG VOWS TO NUKE UN ‘MASTER’ AMERICA
North Korea on Thursday vowed to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States, amplifying its threatening rhetoric hours ahead of a vote by UN diplomats on whether to level new sanctions against Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test. An unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said the North will exercise its right for ‘pre-emptive nuclear strikes on the headquarters of the aggressors’ because Washington is pushing to start a nuclear war against the North.
Although North Korea boasts of nuclear bombs and pre-emptive strikes, it is not thought to have mastered the ability to produce a warhead small enough to put on a missile capable of reaching the US It is believed to have enough nuclear fuel, however, for a handful of crude nuclear devices.
Such inflammatory rhetoric is common from North Korea, but it has been coming regularly in recent days. North Korea is angry over the possible sanctions and over upcoming US-South Korean military drills.
The UN Security Council is set to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Pyongyang in a fresh attempt to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current council president, said the council will vote on the draft sanctions resolution today morning. The resolution was drafted by the United States and China, North Korea’s closest ally.
Next Story
