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The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to impose
financial and weapons sanctions on North Korea for its claimed
nuclear test in a resolution that Pyongyang immediately
rejected.
The US-drafted resolution, which said the reclusive communist
state's action was a "clear threat to international peace and
security," allows nations to stop cargo going to and from North
Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction or related
supplies.
The resolution bars trade with North Korea in dangerous weapons. It
also impose bans on heavy conventional weapons and luxury goods and
asks nations to freeze funds connected with North Korea's
unconventional arms programs.
North Korea's UN ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, walked out of the council
after he spoke. He accused members of "gangster-like" action for
adopting the resolution and ignoring the threat from the United
States against his country.
Pak said Pyongyang considered any further US pressure a
"declaration of war." North Korea has issued similar statements
before, but this time it was before a formal audience.
Enforcement will largely depend on whether those who have traded
with North Korea honour the bans, which now also have the support
of neighbouring China, the closest ally of North Korea, as well as
Russia.
A UN sanctions committee will distribute a list of which weapons
and related supplies are banned.
US President George Bush said the resolution showed "the world is
united in our opposition to its nuclear weapons plans" and Japan's
Foreign Minister Taro Aso said North Korea had to "take concrete
measures to resolve the issue."
China's worries
As for North Korea's reaction, China warned the 15
Security Council members not to provoke Pyongyang by "provocative
steps," in particular the stopping of suspicious cargo going to and
leaving North Korea to check on weapons.
Although this provision was somewhat softened at China's request,
it still authorizes countries to inspect cargo, thereby putting an
international imprimatur on the US-led Proliferation Security
Initiative. The PSI was launched in May 2003 and encourages
countries to interdict weapons from North Korea, Iran and other
states of concern.
"China strongly urges the countries concerned to adopt a prudent
and responsible attitude in this regard and refrain from taking any
provocative steps that may intensify the tensions," its UN
ambassador, Wang Guangya, said.
In Washington, a preliminary US intelligence analysis showed
radioactivity in air samples collected near the suspected nuclear
test site, a US official said on Friday. But there has been no
conclusive statement on the test.
US officials believe the resolution has spurred international
co-operation against North Korea. To this end Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice plans to visit Japan, South Korea and China later
next week.
"We will talk about our efforts to enforce the provisions and the
steps they are likely to take," US Assistant Secretary of State
Kristen Silverberg said. "We want to see each domestic regime
moving as quickly as possible to enact whatever legislation they
need."
Most of Pyongyang's trade crosses through China, which fears a
flood of refugees if the Pyongyang government collapses. North
Korea also rests between China's border and South Korea, where
25,000 US troops are stationed.
"North Korea is already very familiar with poverty," former South
Korean President Kim Dae-jung told Reuters in an e-mail interview.
"The country can also get support, at least in order to survive,
from countries such as China."
Kim, the architect of South Korea's engagement policy with the
North, blamed US policy in part for the nuclear crisis, which he
said could only end if Washington held direct talks with Pyongyang,
which the Bush administration rejects
The Bush administration has been urged to talk to South Korea by
Russia, China and some leading Democrats.
"We have to talk not only with friends but also with enemies, if
necessary," Kim said.
US Ambassador John Bolton told the Security Council's 15 members:
"Today we are sending a strong and clear message to North Korea and
other would-be proliferators that there will be serious
repercussions in continuing to pursue weapons of mass
destruction."
Next week, the Security Council begins considering sanctions
against Iran for its refusal to suspend it nuclear program. Iran's
foreign ministry said on Saturday threats of sanctions were
"psychological war" and it was more determined than ever to pursue
"the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters after the
vote that deliberations were made more difficult because the United
States had imposed unilateral sanctions on both North Korea and
Iran.
But Bolton told reporters he hoped Iran would pay attention to the
North Korea resolution because deliberation on Tehran's actions
would come next.
"I'm sure they're watching in Tehran what we do on this North
Korea resolution and I hope they watch closely," he said on
Thursday.
