U.N. widens sanctions on North Korea; China joins in
Saturday, June 13, 2009
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously approved wider sanctions against North Korea over its May 25 nuclear test, a move close ally China said showed firm opposition to Pyongyang's atomic ambitions.
The sanctions resolution banned all weapons exports from North Koreaand most arms imports into the reclusive Communist state. It authorized U.N. member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo, requiring them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.
Both China and Russia, which had been reluctant to approve punitive measures against North Korea in the past, backed the U.S.-drafted resolution, which is binding under international law.
China's U.N. ambassador, Zhang Yesui, said the resolution showed the "firm opposition" of the international community to North Korea's nuclear ambitions, but he urged countries to exercise caution when inspecting North Korean cargo.
"Under no circumstances should there be use or threat of the use of force," Zhang said.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said Washington would press for full implementation of the sanctions and would not get into a "tit-for-tat reaction" to every provocation from Pyongyang.
"It would not be a surprise if North Korea reacted to this very tough sanctions regime in a fashion that would be further provocation and further destabilizing," she said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's press office issued a statement welcoming the 15-nation council's move.
"Acting unanimously and agreeing on credible measures, the members of the Security Council have sent today a clear and strong message to (North Korea)," the statement said, adding that the South Korean U.N. chief would "spare no effort in facilitating the implementation of the resolution."
BELLIGERENT THREATS
The measures in the new resolution were covered in a 2006 sanctions resolution, though the new one has more detail and some of the measures -- above all the arms embargo -- have been expanded. If enforced, diplomats say it will make it difficult for Pyongyang to continue its nuclear and missile programs.
A study by the U.S.-based Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis think-tank this year estimated Pyongyang earns around $1.5 billion a year from missile sales.
Asia Society executive vice president Jamie Metzl said it had exported arms to around 20 countries in the past, including Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Sudan.
"Their finances are in big trouble. They have almost nothing that anybody else wants to buy but these arms," Metzl said, describing arms sales, including the sale of nuclear knowhow, as a "financial lifeline" for North Korea.
North Korea, which prompted a period of high tension in the region with the nuclear blast followed by a series of missile tests and belligerent threats, did not send a representative to speak at the Security Council meeting.
Japanese envoy Yukio Takasu acknowledged that the resolution did not permit the use of force, even during inspections of suspicious North Korea cargo. They must be done "on the basis of cooperation and consent" and the only recourse was to report refusals to the Security Council, he said.
During more than two weeks of negotiations on the draft resolution, the United States and Japan had pushed to authorize forced inspections of suspicious air, land and sea cargo. But diplomats said Russia and China had made clear they would veto the resolution unless the inspections were based on consent.
The resolution did speak of a "required inspection" if a ship refuses to be inspected. However, the ship's flag country could then send the vessel to any port it chooses, where the local authorities would carry out any cargo inspection.
This, analysts say, weakened the inspection regime.
All financial transactions with North Korea that could contribute to its nuclear or ballistic missile programs will remain banned. The resolution urges, but does not require, states and institutions not to make new grants or loans to North Korea, except for humanitarian or development aid.
Council diplomats said on condition of anonymity that it was not clear whether China, the closest its neighbor North Korea has to a major ally, was prepared to actively implement the new sanctions resolution.
CHINA'S COMMITMENT
Beijing ignored an earlier round of sanctions against Pyongyang passed after North Korea's first nuclear test in October 2006. But the diplomats said China had become increasingly frustrated with North Korea and it was more likely to help implement the sanctions now than ever before.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the resolution, officially numbered 1874, was "appropriate" and "balanced."
The new resolution broadened the arms embargo against North Korea to ban the sale of all arms -- heavy and small -- by Pyongyang, but allowed it to keep buying small arms. Diplomats said China opposed banningsmall arms sales to Pyongyang.
The resolution urged North Korea to return to the six-nation aid-for-disarmament talks with the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea and offered a chance to suspend sanctions if North Korea changed course.
Britain's Deputy Ambassador Philip Parham said the sanctions targeted Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs and would not hit the North's already impoverished population.
(Additional reporting by David Alexander in Washington; editing by David Storey and Todd Eastham)
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