Security Council Backs N. Korea Sanctions

U.N. Resolution Approved; North Korea Rejects 'Gangster-Like' Demands

(CBS/AP)  The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on North Korea including ship searches for banned weapons, calling Pyongyang's claimed nuclear test "a clear threat to international peace and security." North Korea walked out, rejecting the resolution and accusing the council of "gangster-like" action.

The U.S.-sponsored resolution approved Saturday demands that the reclusive communist nation abandon its nuclear weapons program, and orders all countries to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting any material for weapons of mass destruction or ballistic missiles. It also orders nations to freeze assets of people or businesses connected to these programs, and ban the individuals from traveling.

"In record time, the U.N. Security Council was able to bridge serious differences and produced a tough sanctions Resolution, sending a united message to North Korea to stop its weapons development and return to the bargaining table," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk.

The resolution calls on all countries to inspect cargo leaving and arriving in North Korea to prevent any illegal trafficking in unconventional weapons or ballistic missiles. The final draft was softened from stronger language authorizing searches, but was still unacceptable to China — the North's closest ally — which said it would not carry out any inspections.

"Intense negotiations, beginning last Sunday with North Korea's weapons test, produced a unanimous vote on a Resolution that reassured the Chinese and the Russians that there would be no military force used without a return to the Security Council," Falk said.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said North Korea's proclaimed test "poses one of the gravest threats to international peace and security that this council has ever had to confront."

"Today, we are sending a strong and clear message to North Korea and other would-be proliferators that there will be serious repercussions in continuing to pursue weapons of mass destruction," he said, in what appeared to be a clear warning to Iran, whose nuclear ambitions come before the Security Council again next week.

North Korea's U.N. Ambassador Pak Gil Yon countered by blaming the United States for the reported test, saying America's "threat, sanctions and pressure" had forced North Korea to "prove its possession of nukes to protect its sovereignty and right to existence from the daily increasing danger of war from the United States."

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is ready for talks, dialogue and confrontation," he said. "If the United States increases pressure upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea persistently, the DPRK will continue to take physical countermeasures considering it as a declaration of war."

North Korea has made similar threats in the past, and also has said it might conduct a second nuclear test in response to U.N. sanctions.

The resolution imposed sanctions for the North's "flagrant disregard" of the council's appeal not to detonate a nuclear device and demanded that North Korea "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile."

The vote came after the United States, Britain and France overcame last-minute differences with Russia and China during what the Russian ambassador called "tense negotiations."

"At the last minute, the vote was delayed in order to adjust the Resolution to reflect the voluntary nature of the cargo inspection provision," according to Falk.

The resolution expressly rules out military action against North Korea, a demand by the Russians and Chinese. Bolton warned Pyongyang, however, that if it continues pursuing nuclear weapons, the United States would seek further measures.

The Security Council condemned the nuclear test that North Korea said it conducted on Oct 9. It demanded that North Korea immediately return to six-party talks aimed at persuading Pyongyang to dismantle its weapons program without precondition.

"This action by the United Nations, which was swift and tough, says that we are united in our determination to see to it that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear-weapons free," President Bush said.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, who was chosen on Friday to become the next U.N. secretary-general, said in an AP interview that the council's "very strong resolution ... sends a very strong, clear and unified message to North Korea."

"I hope that North Korea will comply with this resolution," he said. "I hope that all member states of the United Nations will fully implement this resolution."

[drgoodwin12]

Before anyone else steps up and starts blaming every Democrat for this read this http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/14/AR2006101401068.html It demonstrates factually how we have arrived at the current situation.It spans decades and includes Democrats and Republican presidents.You can after reading it draw your own conclusion as who was to blame or not to blame.The blame game itself should not even be a part of any discussion only the solutions need to be look at.

[ellygumera]

I congratulate Amb. John Bolton for an excellent job in getting these UN sactions approved by other nations as well.

America is not alone, other countries like China and Russia have condemned NK's bullying act. By having UN members on board, the immdiate possibility of any nuclear confrontation with NK is avoided - delivering a strong message for this Communist nation to STOP its nuclear ambitions. Time is on our side, we need to continue working with the UN to further bring world peace.

[bluestardad]

We have had nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula for over 35 years now to defend against a massive attack. It is disingenuous for us to say we want a Nuclear Free Korean Peninsula. By the way if people supporting these bungled war policies have never served in the military or even registered for the draft their credibility is suspect. The most ardent supports of the Bush Administration have never served in the military or even registered for the draft. But have no problem sending other people%u2019s children off to war. We who have served our country, lost family and friends in battle, and who%u2019s children are currently serving in these bungled war adventures deserve more than political spin as an explanation for this administration failures.

[drgoodwin12]

Does anybody here honestly beleive sanctions will work?I will not play the blame game here but I seriously doubt that China or Russia will live up to their end.Military options,better read the intelligent agency reports on N.Korea and Iran.None of these proposals will work.Weapons are N.Koreas bread and butter and how do you think they have managed to sell them over the years?The only possible solution to this lies in elimanating nuclear energy alltogether.How many countries have bought Uranium and nuclear reactor plans on the premise of nuclear energy only to turn around and make nuclear weapons?Uranium is plentiful however there is a limit amount that can be finacially purchased for the developement of nuclear energy or weapons.It appears that N.Korea and Iran have limited amounts to make into bombs.Get rid of the source by buying,seizing or driving the price up so high that it is not an affordable option.If the current price went from $40 to $400,000 dollars these cash starved countries and the terrorist would not be afford it.

[wordland]

I`m an expatriot living in Japan and
from where I stand I have to admit that
Bush looks pretty presidential.
I worry that we will actually have a full out
war and that perhaps chemical weopons or nuclear may be used here in Japan.
I have three children here, and the prospect of a war seems horrible. On the other hand to allow North Korea to spread nuclear tachnology throughout the world is not an option.
I really think we`re marching towards an eventual war.
I just hope that Americans will support missile defence spending in this region.
I`m thinking of returning to the states but I`m not sure what will happen in the future.
So just cutting and running may not be the best thing for me.
I just hope that perhaps Americans will support a real buildup here...wuith the hope that this fight will be over quickly with overwhelming
fire power.
Goodluck America....

[bragova]

Getting rid of Christians is just impossible. But if it could be done, this is what you would have left:

Islam: 1.3 billion
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
Primal-indigenous: 300 million
African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
Sikhism: 23 million
Juche: 19 million
Spiritism: 15 million
Judaism: 14 million
Baha'i: 7 million
Jainism: 4.2 million
Shinto: 4 million
Cao Dai: 4 million
Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
Tenrikyo: 2 million
Neo-Paganism: 1 million
Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
Scientology: 500 thousand

[cbgb31]

one_american, the only thing I would comment on is that Clinton and Albright would not have had the support of the American people or the UN to aggressively sanction NK but that was not their strength anyway. They too were a good team with a different approach. However, like you said the agreement was not honored by NK.

[cbgb31]

WarrenJH2, I didn't get any of that. What are you talking about.

[cbgb31]

One_American, Good post. You're right they are a powerful team.

[cindalu1]

janem4---Your last post is sooooo right on. I also posted on another site, almost the same thoughts, BUT the hard Democrats just dont get it, and call it igornance of the facts. For every corrupt Republican, there has been and still is a corrupt Democrat, their answer is, I know BUT, its always BUT it was not their fault, SWEEP it under the rug and lets just forget it. You see, they just dont get it.
VOTE REPUBLICAN---GOD BLESS AMERICA

[exusmcsgt]

janem4-

As for the N. Korea treaty and who undid same, Bush signaled coming in the door that he wasn't going down that road and then blamed N. Korea for not going down that road either.

If you would like some facts to back up my statement, my email is [e-mail].

[exusmcsgt]

janem4-

No janem, I am not a member of the blame America first club. I let the blame fall where deserved and do not blame others for problems we have caused ourselves through downright stupidity.

[agnim]

Isn't all this blustering comical?

US encourages the Europeans to put sanction on China over Tiananmen, while the US is antagonizing China over Taiwan, and we are to believe that China goes along with meaningful sanction on its ally? LOL

Again the American people is duped.
All this childish game to prop up foolish imperial pride.

Let's all

GIVE KOREA A BIG WELCOME TO THE NUKE CLUB! LOL

[gaye5]

The resolution demands North Korea eliminate all its nuclear weapons....
Cant the UN and Bush see that North Korea will see this as ufair. Many of the countries in the UN already have nuclear and they order NK to desist.
And aneMcGreeve I feel that you are right in one way, our leaders give money to these countries without monotering if the people are in fact benefiting from the money given. In most cases the people still stave so surely our great and all knowing leaders would know where the money is in fact going to, if it is not weapons!!! then perhaps private banks of the leaders of the countries they give it to as did Saddam..
Jane I dont think many people think clinton was of good value, I am from Australia and even here we could see he was a weasle...

[patriotic9]

THERE IS TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERY THING:
It's not the time for sanctions.We should look at some other option,Military or Non-Military.I don't know why our Congressmen,Senators and President don't have a Broad Field of Vision.

[exusmcsgt]

janem4-

As I said in another post, any good defense attorney who knows his guy is guilty as sin tries to put everyone else on trial......

[patriotic9]

Sanction against North Korea will cause financial troubles for North Korea which will motivates her even more to sell her Nukes.Who will be their Number #1 customer?offcoarse OSAMA BIN LADEN.Who will be the target of OSAMA BIN LADEN?Off coarse us.Why are we so UNPRACTICAL people living in the FANTASY WORLD and STATE OF DENIAL?If we learn lessons form past Alqaeda attacks and strategies,ARE WE READY FOR SIMULTANEOUS SUICIDE BOMBINGS in major cities of United States in which the bombs used would be NUCLEAR BOMBS.The conclusion is "Sanction would be a good idea to stop North Korea developing Nuclear bombs,It's not a good idea when she has already built NUKES.

[exusmcsgt]

JaneMcGreeve-

I have to chuckle at your having the audacity to tell someone else that THEY rant and rave, much less leave the country....

[one_american]

NPK = DPRK

[one_american]

***-footing = "kitty-cat-footing"