10 June 2009
U.N. Security Council to Consider New Sanctions on North Korea
Washington — Key global powers presented a resolution to the U.N. Security Council June 10 that would impose additional sanctions on North Korea for its recent nuclear weapons tests, says U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice.
The draft resolution was unanimously agreed to by the five permanent Security Council members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — along with Japan and South Korea. A vote by the full 15-member Security Council could come as early as June 12 if there are no major objections from the Council.
“I’m pleased to say that today, on behalf of the United States, Russia, China, France, the [United Kingdom], Japan and South Korea, we tabled a draft resolution to be considered by all colleagues on the Security Council, which we think provides a very strong, very credible, very appropriate response to the provocative nuclear test that North Korea launched and its subsequent activities,” Rice said outside Council chambers at the United Nations.
“We think that the message that the Council will send, should it adopt this resolution, is that North Korea’s behavior is unacceptable, they must pay a price, they ought to return without conditions to a process of negotiations, and that the consequences they will face are significant.”
The seven nations have been working on the wording of the resolution for two weeks to arrive at language they could all support. Other Security Council delegations will send the resolution to their capitals for consideration before a final vote is taken in New York.
“Having sanctions is not our choice, but a certain message must be sent,” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhenmin told reporters, “I hope countries will endorse the text.”
The five permanent Security Council members along with Japan and South Korea sought the resolution after North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test May 25 (9 p.m. EDT May 24). North Korea then test-fired six short-range, ground-to-air and ground-to-ship missiles. On May 25, the Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea’s nuclear test, including strong objections from Pyongyang’s traditional allies China and Russia, according to U.S. officials.
Rice said the resolution builds on and enforce sanctions not yet implemented from previous resolutions against North Korea’s nuclear and long-range missile programs.
Rice said the resolution imposes a complete embargo on the export of arms from North Korea, which has been a significant source of outside revenue for the impoverished nation. The resolution also substantially broadens the ban on the import of weapons to North Korea and requires that any remaining light weapons, small arms and related materials imported be reported to the sanctions committee in advance.
The resolution sets up obligations for countries to inspect suspect cargo ships believed to be carrying prohibited goods to North Korea, Rice said. The inspections can be carried out on the high seas — meaning international waters — or at a nearby port, she said.
The measure also prevents other nations from providing fuel or supplies to North Korean cargo ships if they are suspected of carrying prohibited cargo, Rice said.
The resolution would ban any financial transactions by North Korea related in any form to its nuclear weapons development program, its ballistic missile program or any other weapons of mass destruction, she said.
And the resolution calls on North Korea to join the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as soon as possible and to return to the Six-Party Talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear weapons program. The Six-Party Talks include China — the host nation — North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.
“This sanctions regime, if passed by the Security Council, will bite, and bite in a meaningful way,” Rice said. The resolution, she said, reflects the consensus and recommendation of the seven nations that have presented it to the full Security Council.
A transcript of Rice’s remarks is available on America.gov.
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