UN punishes N. Korea for nuke test

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.

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.

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 insect cargo coming from or bound for North Korea ``as necessary.''

Concession to China

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.''

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo Oct. 17-22 to talk about the resolution and ``how to go about actually implementing that resolution,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters yesterday in Washington.

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.''

Nuclear Test Condemned

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 wvarner@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: October 14, 2006 13:47 EDT

'no hint of force'.