Claremont Independent

Last Updated: 10/9/06 Section: News

North Korea's Last Missile Test, in July

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea's claim to have tested a nuclear weapon underground.
The council is also considering its next steps, including sanctions that could be enforceable by military means.

The US has proposed a draft resolution which included powers to inspect cargo and close air and sea ports to North Korean ships and planes.

President George W Bush said the US was working to confirm the test claim, branding it a "provocative" act.

He said he and regional leaders agreed North Korea's actions were unacceptable and deserved an immediate UN response.

Current Security Council President Kenzo Oshima of Japan urged North Korea to refrain from further testing and return to six-party talks.

The session comes three days after the council agreed a formal statement urging North Korea to cancel any planned nuclear test.

The Americans have circulated a 13-point draft resolution seeking targeted sanctions. They include:

Halting trade in material that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction

Inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea

The ending of financial transactions used to support nuclear proliferation

A ban on the import of luxury goods
The US also wants to see the sanctions brought under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which means they would be mandatory and ultimately enforceable by military means.

UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also said the UK would be "pushing for a robust response" under Chapter Seven.

However, the Russians and Chinese - who have trade links with North Korea - have been reluctant to go down that path, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN in New York.

US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said "even a claim of such a test clearly constitutes a threat to international peace and security".

He told BBC News 24: "If the Security Council of the United Nations can't deal with a threat like that then we have to ask what role it could have in dealing with weapons of mass destruction around the world.

"So, I think the mood here is pretty strong - to be sure the specifics have to be worked out - but in terms of the early reaction, I think it's very favourable to a very strong council resolution."

But North Korea's ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, said the Security Council should congratulate Pyongyang instead of issuing "useless" resolutions.

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