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UN puts sanction on N Korea firms N Korea 'reprocessing fuel rods'
(about 3 hours later)
The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on three North Korean companies in response to Pyongyang's rocket launch on 5 April. North Korea has started to reprocess spent fuel rods at its nuclear plant, says the country's state media.
It marks the first concrete steps against Pyongyang since the UN officially condemned the launch. The reprocessing is a possible move towards producing weapons grade plutonium and comes after Pyongyang's launch of a long-range rocket in April.
North Korea has rejected the sanctions as "a wanton violation of the United Nations charter". Earlier, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on three North Korean companies in response to the launch.
Pyongyang says the launch put a satellite in orbit but critics say it was a long-range missile test. Pyongyang said it would ignore the sanctions, describing them as "a wanton violation of the UN charter".
"The reprocessing of spent fuel rods from the pilot atomic power plant began as declared in the Foreign Ministry statement dated April 14," North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying.
That was the date that Pyongyang announced it was pulling out of talks on its nuclear programme and would restart its Yongbyon reactor.
The official said the reprocessing would "contribute to bolstering the nuclear deterrence for self-defence in every way to cope with the increasing military threats from the hostile forces".
Assets freeze
Satellite view of nuclear site
Pyongyang's announcement came only hours after the UN imposed sanctions on three companies it said had supported North Korea's controversial rocket launch.
The North says the launch put a satellite in orbit broadcasting patriotic songs, but critics say it was a long-range missile test that crashed into the Pacific.
The sanctions mark the first concrete steps against Pyongyang since the UN officially condemned the launch.
The head of the UN's Sanction Committee, Turkish ambassador Baki Ilkin, said the committee had "agreed to update a lengthy list of items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, whose import to and export from the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] are prohibited".The head of the UN's Sanction Committee, Turkish ambassador Baki Ilkin, said the committee had "agreed to update a lengthy list of items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, whose import to and export from the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] are prohibited".
"This update includes some of the latest technologies relevant to ballistic missile programmes," he said."This update includes some of the latest technologies relevant to ballistic missile programmes," he said.
Mr Ilkin said the committee had also ruled that three companies be subject to measures requiring nations that have dealings with them to freeze their assets.Mr Ilkin said the committee had also ruled that three companies be subject to measures requiring nations that have dealings with them to freeze their assets.
The companies are the Korea Mining Development Trading Corp (KOMID), Korea Ryongbong General Corp and Tanchon Commercial Bank.The companies are the Korea Mining Development Trading Corp (KOMID), Korea Ryongbong General Corp and Tanchon Commercial Bank.
Several subsidiary firms are also believed to be affected by the sanctions.Several subsidiary firms are also believed to be affected by the sanctions.
'Step forward''Step forward'
North Korea's Deputy UN Ambassador Pak Tok Hun said the decision was "a wanton violation of the United Nations charter".North Korea's Deputy UN Ambassador Pak Tok Hun said the decision was "a wanton violation of the United Nations charter".
NUCLEAR CRISIS Feb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aidJune 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactorJune 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assetsOct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorismDec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aidJan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent"5 April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite14 April 2009 - After criticism of the launch from the UN Security Council, North Korea vows to walk out of six-party talks Engage, appease, oppose? N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North KoreaNUCLEAR CRISIS Feb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aidJune 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactorJune 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assetsOct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorismDec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aidJan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent"5 April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite14 April 2009 - After criticism of the launch from the UN Security Council, North Korea vows to walk out of six-party talks Engage, appease, oppose? N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North Korea
"It is the inalienable right of every nation and country to make peaceful use of outer space," he said."It is the inalienable right of every nation and country to make peaceful use of outer space," he said.
"That is why we totally reject and do not recognise any sort of decision which has been made in the Security Council.""That is why we totally reject and do not recognise any sort of decision which has been made in the Security Council."
US diplomats said the new legally-binding sanctions were "a serious and credible response" to the launch.US diplomats said the new legally-binding sanctions were "a serious and credible response" to the launch.
British ambassador John Sawers said the committee's unanimous agreement was "a major step forward in terms of international action to disrupt and deter" North Korea's ballistic missile programme.British ambassador John Sawers said the committee's unanimous agreement was "a major step forward in terms of international action to disrupt and deter" North Korea's ballistic missile programme.
The UN Security Council council unanimously condemned North Korea's rocket launch on 13 April, saying it was a cover for a long-range missile test and as such contravened a 2006 resolution banning such tests.The UN Security Council council unanimously condemned North Korea's rocket launch on 13 April, saying it was a cover for a long-range missile test and as such contravened a 2006 resolution banning such tests.
North Korea responded by saying it was pulling out of six party talks on its nuclear programme and would restart its partially-dismantled nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.North Korea responded by saying it was pulling out of six party talks on its nuclear programme and would restart its partially-dismantled nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
It also ordered UN nuclear monitors to leave the country.It also ordered UN nuclear monitors to leave the country.
The debate over sanctions has been complicated by opposition from Russia and China, a major trading partner, over how to respond to North Korea's actions.The debate over sanctions has been complicated by opposition from Russia and China, a major trading partner, over how to respond to North Korea's actions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been in Pyongyang in an attempt to persuade the North to return to the nuclear talks.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been in Pyongyang in an attempt to persuade the North to return to the nuclear talks.
Mr Lavrov told a news conference in Seoul earlier that sanctions were "not constructive".Mr Lavrov told a news conference in Seoul earlier that sanctions were "not constructive".