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UN to pressure N Korea over test UN issues N Korea nuclear warning
(about 11 hours later)
North Korea is set to come under renewed diplomatic pressure on Friday as the UN Security Council prepares to debate the North's nuclear test threat. The UN Security Council has agreed on a formal statement urging North Korea to cancel any planned nuclear test and return to disarmament talks.
Council members are reportedly close to agreeing a statement urging Pyongyang to cancel any test and return to talks. The final text unanimously adopted by the council expressed "deep concern" over the nuclear test threat made by Pyongyang on Tuesday.
The North's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il made his first appearance since Tuesday's threat, shown by state TV being cheered at an army event. The UN statement warned that such a test would lead to further unspecified Security Council action.
Some observers have warned that a test could come as early as this weekend.Some observers have warned that a test could come as early as this weekend.
"Based on the development so far, it would be best to view that a test is possible this weekend," Japan's Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi told Japanese TV after talks with US officials in Washington.
UN Security Council members, meeting late on Thursday, reached broad agreement on a statement, Reuters news agency reported.
KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test Watching for a test N Korea nuclear timelineKOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test Watching for a test N Korea nuclear timeline
The draft text was being sent to governments for possible changes before being discussed later on Friday by the Security Council. The council statement said a nuclear test would "jeopardize peace, stability and security in the region and beyond" and "bring universal condemnation by the international community."
The US and Japan had called for a strong response, but the text is not thought to make any explicit mention of Chapter VII, which allows the UN to enforce its demands. It said: "The Security Council will act consistent with its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations."
Reuters quoted diplomats as saying China, North Korea's closest ally, and Russia may seek further changes to the text on Friday. "It was a very good statement," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters. "We are pleased that it has been adopted."
Beijing has urged restraint and called for the issue to be handled in revived six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. "It is a very strong message in favour of respect for non-proliferation."
Russia said on Thursday it was holding direct talks with Pyongyang to try to persuade it from carrying out a test. Japan's Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi told Japanese TV after talks with US officials in Washington that it was possible a test could come this weekend.
The North's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il has appeared on state TV being cheered at an army event.
Possible nuclear test site at GiljuEnlarge MapPossible nuclear test site at GiljuEnlarge Map
Kim Jong-il was greeted with "stormy cheers of hurrah" at a military rally, the official KCNA news agency reported. He was greeted with "stormy cheers of hurrah", the official KCNA news agency reported.
It did not say when he made his appearance, but it is the first to be reported in three weeks.It did not say when he made his appearance, but it is the first to be reported in three weeks.
He congratulated his military commanders for "bolstering" the country's armed forces and urged them to "further strengthen the battalions", KCNA said. He congratulated military commanders for "bolstering" the country's armed forces and urged them to "further strengthen the battalions", KCNA said.
North Korea has not specified where or when a nuclear test might be carried out.
Japan said on Friday it was stepping up its monitoring of North Korea, although there was not thought to be any specific intelligence suggesting a test might take place this weekend.Japan said on Friday it was stepping up its monitoring of North Korea, although there was not thought to be any specific intelligence suggesting a test might take place this weekend.
"They will probably go ahead and do it as they had that tone in their declaration. It possibly means they are already very prepared," Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi said. "They will probably go ahead and do it as they had that tone in their declaration. It possibly means they are already very prepared," Mr Yachi said.