UN vows to tighten sanctions on N Korea

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Monday vowed to push all countries to tighten sanctions against North Korea as it prepared for a closed-door meeting called in response to the latest missile launch, reports AFP .In a unanimous statement backed by the North's ally China, the council strongly condemned the test-firing on Sunday and instructed the UN sanctions committee to redouble efforts to implement a series of tough measures adopted last year.The council also agreed to "take further significant measures including sanctions" to force North Korea to change course and end its "highly destabilizing behavior".
The US-drafted statement was agreed on the eve of the emergency meeting requested by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss a course of action on North Korea.
The United States has for weeks been negotiating a new Security Council sanctions resolution with China, but US ambassador Nikki Haley said last week that no final draft text had been clinched.
"This is the same movie that keeps playing. He continues to test. We've got to do action," Haley told MSNBC television."You know, some say, 'Oh, but sanctions haven't worked'. First of all, when the entire international community speaks with one voice, it does work," she countered."It lets them know that they are on an island and we're all against them and that they need to correct their behavior."
North Korea on Sunday launched the Pukguksong-2, described by Washington as a medium-range missile, from Pukchang in South Pyongan province.It traveled about 310 miles (500 kilometers) before landing in the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea's armed forces.The launch was the latest in a series this year as Pyongyang steps up its efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States.
"These actions threaten regional and international security," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters."We call on the DPRK (North Korea) to stop further testing and allow space to explore the resumption of meaningful dialogue."The North, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the threat of invasion, later said it "flatly rejected" the UN statement, which had been drawn up by "the US and its followers".

 

UN vows to tighten sanctions on N Korea

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Monday vowed to push all countries to tighten sanctions against North Korea as it prepared for a closed-door meeting called in response to the latest missile launch, reports AFP .In a unanimous statement backed by the Norths ally China, the council strongly condemned the test-firing on Sunday and instructed the UN sanctions committee to redouble efforts to implement a series of tough measures adopted last year.The council also agreed to take further significant measures including sanctions to force North Korea to change course and end its highly destabilizing behavior. The US-drafted statement was agreed on the eve of the emergency meeting requested by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss a course of action on North Korea. The United States has for weeks been negotiating a new Security Council sanctions resolution with China, but US ambassador Nikki Haley said last week that no final draft text had been clinched. This is the same movie that keeps playing. He continues to test. Weve got to do action, Haley told MSNBC television.You know, some say, Oh, but sanctions havent worked. First of all, when the entire international community speaks with one voice, it does work, she countered.It lets them know that they are on an island and were all against them and that they need to correct their behavior. North Korea on Sunday launched the Pukguksong-2, described by Washington as a medium-range missile, from Pukchang in South Pyongan province.It traveled about 310 miles (500 kilometers) before landing in the Sea of Japan, according to South Koreas armed forces.The launch was the latest in a series this year as Pyongyang steps up its efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States. These actions threaten regional and international security, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.We call on the DPRK (North Korea) to stop further testing and allow space to explore the resumption of meaningful dialogue.The North, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the threat of invasion, later said it flatly rejected the UN statement, which had been drawn up by the US and its followers.