Security Council to Vote N. Korea Sanctions

Local Editor

The UN Security Council is set to vote on a US-engineered resolution that would impose a package of unprecedented sanctions on North Korea after its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

The council is expected to convene at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday to decide on the resolution that was presented by the US last week, according to Washington's mission to the UN.

Referring to the resolution, the US Ambassador Samantha Power said "if adopted, it will break new ground and represent the strongest new set of sanctions in two decades."

The new sanctions would require UN member states, for the first time, to inspect all cargo going to and from North Korea by air, sea and land. A complete ban would also be imposed on all types of weapons transfers to and from the country.

On January 6, Pyongyang said it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb, its fourth nuclear test, vowing to build up its nuclear program as deterrence against potential aggression from the United States.

A month later, North Korea launched a long-range rocket that it said placed an earth observation satellite into orbit. However, Washington and South Korea denounced it as a cover for an intercontinental ballistic missile test.

Meanwhile, Washington said it had submitted the proposed resolution after reaching an agreement with China. Russia, however, said it needed time to analyze the content of the draft resolution.

Pyongyang has already been under UN sanctions over launching missiles considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic and aimed at delivering nuclear warheads.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team