Published Date:
11 June 2009
WESTERN powers have reached agreement with North Korea's allies on a United Nations proposal that would impose tough new sanctions on weapons exports and allow inspection of cargo in ports and on the high seas.
The draft resolution, which must still be approved by the UN Security Council, is aimed at preventing North Korea from obtaining and exporting material, finance and know-how to produce nuclear weapons and missiles.
US ambassador Susan Rice presented the draft resolution yesterday, calling it "a very strong, very credible" response to North Korea's second nuclear test on 25 May, which defied a security council resolution.
"This sanctions regime will bite, and bite in a meaningful way," she said. "We think that the message that the council will send should it adopt this resolution is that North Korea's behaviour is unacceptable, they must pay a price."
On Monday, Pyongyang's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country would consider sanctions a declaration of war and respond with "self-defence measures". On Tuesday the country said it would use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.
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Last Updated:
11 June 2009 9:26 AM
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Source:
Edinburgh Evening News
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
North Korea
