North Korea Watch: United Nations Security Council Votes for Limited Sanctions on North Korea
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton votes on a unanimously approved Security Council resolution to impose weapons-related sanctions on North Korea, in response to its flurry of missile tests earlier this month, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, July 15, 2006.
Reuters: UN sanctions vote prompts North Korea rejection
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday for a resolution requiring nations to prevent North Korea from getting dangerous weapons and demanding Pyongyang halt its ballistic missile program.
North Korea immediately “totally rejected” the resolution. Its U.N. Ambassador Pak Gil Yon told the council that Pyongyang’s missile development served “to keep the balance of force and preserving peace and stability in Northeast Asia.”
In response, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Pak “set a world record in rejecting it within 45 minutes after its adoption,” adding: “I could exercise the right of reply on behalf of the United States — but on the other hand, why bother?”
Ok, Flap was wrong and a resolution made it out of the United Nations Security Council today. However, China won its position and the resolution does not have the force or impact of a chapter 7 resolution, despite new stronger language by Great Britain.
Naturally, North Korea promptly rejected the “toothless” UNSC resolution.
So, now what?
North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations Pak Gil Yon speaks at the United Nations Security Council after a vote on the North Korea missile crisis Saturday July 15, 2006 at the United Nations in New York.
The resolution bans all U.N. member states from selling material or technology for missiles or weapons of mass destruction to North Korea, and from receiving missiles, banned weapons or technology from Pyongyang.
It condemns North Korea’s multiple missile launches on July 5 and demands that North Korea “suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program” and re-establish a moratorium on missile launches. It strongly urges North Korea to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program, which have been stalled since last September.
The resolution adopted Saturday by a 15-0 vote states that the Security Council was “acting under its special responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
The United States, Britain, France and Japan insist that even without Chapter 7, the resolution is mandatory and all countries are required to comply — including North Korea.
Japan, which views itself as a potential target of North Korean missiles, sponsored the initial resolution, which in the end was put to a vote as a presidential text, with the support of all council members.
Will North Korea test more missiles?
Probably……
The United Nations’ ten day exercise in diplomacy has been worthless. The resolution today means nothing and if North Korea decides to test more missiles Russia and China will develop new excuses to enforcing sanctions on North Korea.
Stay tuned……
North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations Pak Gil Yon, right, leaves the United Nations Security Council after speaking in reference to a vote on the North Korea missile crisis Saturday July 15, 2006 at the United Nations in New York.
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North Korea Watch: United States and Japan Press for United Nations Security Council Vote
North Korea Watch: Japan Demands Vote on United Nations Resolution
North Korea Watch: China and Russia Introduce Rival “Weakened†North Korea Resolution
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