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US calls proposed sanctions on NKorea a ‘major upgrade’ US calls proposed sanctions on NKorea a ‘major upgrade’
(about 3 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Thursday introduced a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that it said will significantly increase pressure on North Korea in response to its latest nuclear test and missile launch.UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Thursday introduced a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that it said will significantly increase pressure on North Korea in response to its latest nuclear test and missile launch.
Ambassador Samantha Power said the draft is meant to ensure North Korea will be held accountable for its actions. Ambassador Samantha Power said the draft, which for the first time would subject cargo ships leaving and entering North Korea to mandatory inspections, goes farther than previous sanctions and is meant to ensure North Korea will be held accountable for its actions.
“It is a major upgrade and there will be, provided it goes forward, pressure on more points, tougher, more comprehensive, more sectors. It’s breaking new ground in a whole host of ways,” Power said before heading into a closed-door meeting where the U.S. planned to circulate the draft to all 15 council members.“It is a major upgrade and there will be, provided it goes forward, pressure on more points, tougher, more comprehensive, more sectors. It’s breaking new ground in a whole host of ways,” Power said before heading into a closed-door meeting where the U.S. planned to circulate the draft to all 15 council members.
The draft is the result of an agreement between the United States and China, North Korea’s main ally. The council is expected to vote on it over the weekend. The draft is the result of an agreement between the United States and China, North Korea’s main ally and Beijing’s involvement signals a policy shift with regard to its often erratic neighbor. The council is expected to vote on it over the weekend.
A U.S. official familiar with the draft, who asked not to be identified because negotiations were ongoing, said the proposed new sanctions are broader in scope than in previous resolutions and contain unprecedented enforcement provisions, including a requirement that countries inspect any cargo passing through their country on its way to or from North Korea. “We are opposed to any nuclear testing and the launch testing of ballistic missile technology and we hope this resolution will help to prevent further occurrences of this nature,” China’s Ambassador Liu Jieyi said following the meeting.
The draft also includes a total ban on arms sales by or to North Korea, closing a loophole for small arms and light weapons in earlier sanctions resolutions. Jieyi said China was working very closely with other members of the Security Council and that he hoped the resolution “would achieve the objective of denuclearization” and result in “peace and stability.”
It also would ban flights by North Korean planes believed to be carrying illicit goods. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the resolution praised China’s cooperation.
Taking aim at the country’s finances, the draft resolution requires states to freeze assets that are determined to be associated with North Korea’s ballistic missile program. It also seeks to crack down on North Korea’s “proliferation network” by requiring U.N. member states to expel its diplomats and functionaries of companies found to be involved in illicit activities. “I do think that it is indicative of how productive diplomacy can be. It’s not easy, but it certainly is an indication that the United States and China, when our interests are aligned, can cooperate quite effectively to advance the interests of citizens in both our countries,” Earnest said.
The draft resolution would also ban imports of aviation fuel, with no exceptions, and exports of rare earths and mineral by North Korea, the diplomat said. Power said the sanctions would also prohibit the sale of small arms and other conventional weapons to North Korea, closing a loophole in earlier resolutions.
The official stressed that the sanctions target the ruling elite and are designed not to add to the “grave hardship of the people of DPRK.” Power said sanctions would also limit and in some cases ban exports of coal, iron gold titanium and rare earth minerals from North Korea and would prohibit countries from supplying aviation fuel, including rocket fuel to the country.
Items such as luxury watches, snowmobiles, recreational water vehicles and lead crystal were also added to a list of luxury goods that North Korea is not allowed to import. In addition, the resolution imposes financial sanctions targeting North Korean banks and assets and bans all dual use nuclear and missile related items.
“These sanctions, if adopted, would send an unambiguous and unyielding message to the DPRK: The world will not accept you proliferation. There will be consequences for your actions and we will work relentlessly and collectively to stop your nuclear program,” Power said.
She stressed that the sanctions targeted the ruling elite and not the North Korean people.
“The North Korean people have suffered so much already under one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever known,” Power said.
Items such as luxury watches, snowmobiles, recreational water vehicles and lead crystal were also added to a long list of luxury goods that North Korea is not allowed to import.
“We remain clear-eyed about the prospects of an immediate change in DPRK’s behavior but we have seen how robust sanctions can alter a government’s dangerous nuclear ambitions in other contexts,” Power said, referring to North Korea by the abbreviation for its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
North Korea started off the new year with what it claims was its first hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6 and followed that up with the launch of a satellite on a rocket on Feb. 7 that was condemned by much of the world as a test of banned missile technology.North Korea started off the new year with what it claims was its first hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6 and followed that up with the launch of a satellite on a rocket on Feb. 7 that was condemned by much of the world as a test of banned missile technology.
Over the past 10 years, North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests and launched six long-range missiles — all in violation of Security Council resolutions.Over the past 10 years, North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests and launched six long-range missiles — all in violation of Security Council resolutions.
The U.N. draft follows a flurry of activity in Washington, including meetings between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday, and with National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday.The U.N. draft follows a flurry of activity in Washington, including meetings between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday, and with National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday.
The U.S., its Western allies and Japan, also pressed for new sanctions that go beyond the North’s nuclear and missile programs. But China, Pyongyang’s neighbor and supporter on the council, is reluctant to impose measures that could threaten the stability of North Korea and cause the country’s economy to collapse.The U.S., its Western allies and Japan, also pressed for new sanctions that go beyond the North’s nuclear and missile programs. But China, Pyongyang’s neighbor and supporter on the council, is reluctant to impose measures that could threaten the stability of North Korea and cause the country’s economy to collapse.
The United States has taken tougher steps of its own against North Korea, tightening sanctions and announcing it will hold formal talks with South Korea on deploying a missile defense system that China fears could be used against it as well North Korea.The United States has taken tougher steps of its own against North Korea, tightening sanctions and announcing it will hold formal talks with South Korea on deploying a missile defense system that China fears could be used against it as well North Korea.
South Korea and Japan have also announced new measures against Pyongyang.South Korea and Japan have also announced new measures against Pyongyang.
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Associated Press Writer Darlene Superville contributed in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.