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UN boosts North Korea sanctions UN toughens North Korea sanctions
(40 minutes later)
The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose new sanctions on communist North Korea. The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea.
The move follows a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans last month, in defiance of previous UN resolutions.The move follows a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans last month, in defiance of previous UN resolutions.
The new sanctions are tougher than those that were already in place against the North Koreans. The sanctions include the inspection of North Korean ships, a wider ban on arms sales and other financial measures.
They include provisions for the inspection of North Korean ships, a tighter ban on arms exports, and financial measures. The US deputy ambassador at the UN, Rosemary DiCarlo, said the new vote was a strong and united response to North Korea's "unacceptable behaviour".
On Thursday, the US envoy to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, said Washington was addressing a "growing threat" from Pyongyang, but still hoped for a diplomatic solution. 'Appropriate and balanced'
Mr Bosworth told a Senate hearing in Washington that the Obama administration's strong preference was to engage in "serious, effective diplomacy". The Chinese ambassador, Zhang Yesui, said the resolution showed the "firm opposition" of the world to North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
The draft UN resolution agreed this week calls on member states to inspect North Korean ships suspected of carrying equipment related to weapons of mass destruction. "We strongly urge the DPRK (North Korea) to honour its commitment to de-nuclearisation, stop any moves that may further worsen the situation, and return to the six-party talks," the ambassador said.
It also reasserts a UN ban on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests and calls on Pyongyang to go back on its decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). He described the resolution as "appropriate and balanced" but said measures authorising states to inspect cargo should be handled prudently, with no use - or threat - of force.
In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a long-range and several short-range missiles, and tested a nuclear device in defiance of the UN Security Council. The tougher UN sanctions are binding in international law
North Korea has warned that it will use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked. China and Russia have been reluctant to support punitive measures against North Korea in the past.
The new resolution, which was drafted by the Americans, is now binding in international law.
It authorises UN member states to inspect North Korean cargo being transported on land, at sea and by air, and to destroy any goods suspected of being connected to weapons of mass destruction.
In addition, there are to be tighter controls on weapons exports and imports.
North Korea carried out a nuclear test - its second - on 25 May. It then launched a number of short-range missiles.
The North has previously warned that it will use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.