Have you ever heard that Korea is the King of the North?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ap_YWZ_Mtqww&refer=home
UN Votes to Punish North Korea for Nuclear Test (Update2)
By Bill Varner
Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations Security Council voted 15 to 0 to adopt a resolution that punishes North Korea for a suspected nuclear-bomb test Oct. 9 and demands that the communist nation not conduct any further tests.
The measure bars the sale or transfer of missiles, warships, tanks, attack helicopters and combat aircraft, as well as missile- and nuclear-related goods to the North Korean government. It calls for UN member nations to conduct ``inspection of cargo'' going to or from North Korea.
The resolution is a ``strong and clear message to North Korea and other would-be proliferators that there would be serious repercussions for continuing to pursue weapons of mass destruction,'' U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said. Bolton said the U.S. would ``ensure that North Korea faces serious consequences if it continues down its current path.''
North Korea, also called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, ``totally rejects'' the resolution, Ambassador Pak Gil Yon said. ``If the U.S. increases pressure on the DPRK, persistently, the DPRK will continue to take physical counter measures, considering it as a declaration of war.''
`Gangster-like'
Pak said the council's action was ``gangster-like'' and that the North Korean nuclear test ``was entirely attributable to the U.S. nuclear threat, sanctions and pressure.''
After Pak walked out of the Security Council chamber as South Korea's envoy began to speak, Bolton said the gesture reminded him of former Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev pounding his shoe on a desk in the General Assembly. Bolton suggested that the UN should consider expelling North Korea from the world body.
Agreement came after the U.S. introduced amendments that addressed objections by China and Russia. China sought greater assurances that the resolution couldn't be used to justify armed seizure of North Korean ships traveling in international waters, while Russia was concerned about the scope of weapons-related items included in the embargo.
Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima called the resolution ``one of the most important decisions this council has taken in recent times.''
Cargo Inspections
The U.S. agreed to a 40-page list of items to be embargoed and to a softening of the language on inspection of vessels. The final text says nations are only ``called upon'' to inspect cargo coming from or bound for North Korea ``as necessary.''
``China does not approve of inspecting cargo to and from North Korea,'' Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said following the vote. ``China strongly urges countries concerned to adopt a prudent and responsible attitude in this regard and refrain from taking any provocative steps that may intensify tension.''
In an earlier concession to China, the U.S. dropped a broad reference to a chapter of the UN Charter that would have authorized the use of force to enforce the sanctions. The final text precludes the use of force and limits enforcement to ``interruption'' of economic relations, communications and diplomatic relations.
To further clarify the issue, the resolution states that ``further decisions will be required, should additional measures be necessary.''
Rice Trip
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo Oct. 17-22 to discuss North Korea and ``how to go about actually implementing that resolution,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters yesterday in Washington.
``We will seek to increase defense cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defense to protect against North Korea aggression and cooperation to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or other missile technologies,'' Bolton said.
The U.S. notified South Korea today that it had detected evidence of radioactivity near the site where North Korea claims it conducted the nuclear test.
``The U.S. informed us of its findings,'' said Chun Ki Seok an official at the public affairs division of the Defense Ministry in Seoul. ``The detection of radioactivity means the North conducted a nuclear test. But we are still unaware of whether the test succeeded.''
The resolution condemns the test, decides that its nuclear program must be verifiably eliminated and demands that North Korea not conduct any more tests and adhere to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.
The measure also establishes a Security Council committee to identify persons whose financial assets will be frozen because they contributed to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Foreign travel by the designated people would be banned.
Exceptions were made for delivery of humanitarian aid to North Korea.
Adoption of the text comes three months after the Security Council adopted a resolution barring North Korea from acquiring or selling missile technology. That measure was in response to North Korea's July 5 test of seven ballistic missiles.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Varner in United Nations at [email protected] .
Last Updated: October 14, 2006 15:09 EDT