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| North Korea vows to tear up Korean war ceasefire agreement | North Korea vows to tear up Korean war ceasefire agreement |
| (12 days later) | |
| North Korea has said it will cancel the 1953 ceasefire that ended the Korean war, citing as reasons a US-led push for UN sanctions over Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and continuing US-South Korean joint military drills. | North Korea has said it will cancel the 1953 ceasefire that ended the Korean war, citing as reasons a US-led push for UN sanctions over Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and continuing US-South Korean joint military drills. |
| Its Korean people's army supreme command warned of stronger additional countermeasures, in a statement that came amid reports that Washington and Beijing have approved a draft of punishing sanctions for a UN security council resolution responding to North Korea's nuclear test, on 12 February. The draft is expected to be circulated at the UN on Tuesday. | Its Korean people's army supreme command warned of stronger additional countermeasures, in a statement that came amid reports that Washington and Beijing have approved a draft of punishing sanctions for a UN security council resolution responding to North Korea's nuclear test, on 12 February. The draft is expected to be circulated at the UN on Tuesday. |
| The US and others fear that North Korea's third nuclear test pushes it a step closer to its goal of having nuclear-armed missiles that can reach America. They condemn its rocket launches and nuclear tests as a dangerous threat to regional security. | The US and others fear that North Korea's third nuclear test pushes it a step closer to its goal of having nuclear-armed missiles that can reach America. They condemn its rocket launches and nuclear tests as a dangerous threat to regional security. |
| North Korea says its nuclear programme is a response to US hostility dating back to the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the Korean peninsula still technically in a state of war. | North Korea says its nuclear programme is a response to US hostility dating back to the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the Korean peninsula still technically in a state of war. |
| North Korea warned it would cancel the Korean war ceasefire agreement on 11 March, pointing to US-South Korean military drills that began on 1 March. | North Korea warned it would cancel the Korean war ceasefire agreement on 11 March, pointing to US-South Korean military drills that began on 1 March. |
| North Korea said Washington and others were going beyond mere economic sanctions and were expanding into blunt aggression and military acts. North Korea also warned it would block a communications line between it and the US at the border village that separates the two Koreas. | North Korea said Washington and others were going beyond mere economic sanctions and were expanding into blunt aggression and military acts. North Korea also warned it would block a communications line between it and the US at the border village that separates the two Koreas. |
| UN diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made, said the United States was expected to circulate the draft resolution on sanctions against North Korea to the full council on Tuesday. Council members are then expected to send the draft to their capitals for review. | UN diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made, said the United States was expected to circulate the draft resolution on sanctions against North Korea to the full council on Tuesday. Council members are then expected to send the draft to their capitals for review. |
| Any fresh international sanctions are certain to infuriate North Korea, which has claimed the right to build nuclear weapons to deter US aggression. Citing the US-led push for sanctions, the Korean people's army supreme command on Tuesday warned of "surgical strikes" meant to unify the divided Korean peninsula and of an indigenous, "precision nuclear striking tool". | Any fresh international sanctions are certain to infuriate North Korea, which has claimed the right to build nuclear weapons to deter US aggression. Citing the US-led push for sanctions, the Korean people's army supreme command on Tuesday warned of "surgical strikes" meant to unify the divided Korean peninsula and of an indigenous, "precision nuclear striking tool". |
| China is North Korea's closest ally, but it has indicated it is concerned about Pyongyang's behaviour. | China is North Korea's closest ally, but it has indicated it is concerned about Pyongyang's behaviour. |
| A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing refused to give any details about the deal with the US at her daily media briefing. "We have said here many times that China supports the UN security council in reacting moderately and explicitly objects to North Korea's nuclear test," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. | A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing refused to give any details about the deal with the US at her daily media briefing. "We have said here many times that China supports the UN security council in reacting moderately and explicitly objects to North Korea's nuclear test," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. |
| Hours after North Korea carried out its third atomic blast, all 15 council members approved a press statement condemning the nuclear test and pledging further action. The swift, unanimous response from the UN's most powerful body set the stage for a fourth round of sanctions. | Hours after North Korea carried out its third atomic blast, all 15 council members approved a press statement condemning the nuclear test and pledging further action. The swift, unanimous response from the UN's most powerful body set the stage for a fourth round of sanctions. |
| For the last three weeks, the United States, a close ally of South Korea and Japan, has been negotiating the text of a new resolution with China. Lawmakers in Washington this week are also pushing for tougher US financial restrictions on North Korea, which have been tried before with significant impact but have upset China. | For the last three weeks, the United States, a close ally of South Korea and Japan, has been negotiating the text of a new resolution with China. Lawmakers in Washington this week are also pushing for tougher US financial restrictions on North Korea, which have been tried before with significant impact but have upset China. |
| In Seoul, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that "considerable progress" has been made in the security council on how to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test. However, spokesman Cho Tae-young told reporters he couldn't disclose any details of the draft resolution because no final agreement has been reached. | In Seoul, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that "considerable progress" has been made in the security council on how to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test. However, spokesman Cho Tae-young told reporters he couldn't disclose any details of the draft resolution because no final agreement has been reached. |
| Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin, whose country holds the security council presidency this month, told a news conference on Monday that a resolution on North Korea might be approved in March, though the text had not yet been circulated. | Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin, whose country holds the security council presidency this month, told a news conference on Monday that a resolution on North Korea might be approved in March, though the text had not yet been circulated. |
| Last month's statement from the security council called the underground test in February a "grave violation" of three UN resolutions that ban North Korea from conducting nuclear or missile tests. | Last month's statement from the security council called the underground test in February a "grave violation" of three UN resolutions that ban North Korea from conducting nuclear or missile tests. |
| North Korea's three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 occurred after Pyongyang was condemned by the United Nations for rocket launches. | North Korea's three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 occurred after Pyongyang was condemned by the United Nations for rocket launches. |
| The security council imposed sanctions after the first two nuclear tests and after the North's rocket launch in December, which was viewed as part of the country's covert programme to develop ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. | The security council imposed sanctions after the first two nuclear tests and after the North's rocket launch in December, which was viewed as part of the country's covert programme to develop ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. |
| The North's latest nuclear test was seen as a crucial step toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile capable of striking the United States. Many outside analysts still believe the North has not achieved such a miniaturisation technology. | The North's latest nuclear test was seen as a crucial step toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile capable of striking the United States. Many outside analysts still believe the North has not achieved such a miniaturisation technology. |
| The sanctions have been aimed at trying to derail the country's rogue nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. They bar North Korea from testing or using nuclear or ballistic missile technology, and from importing or exporting material for these programmes. | The sanctions have been aimed at trying to derail the country's rogue nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. They bar North Korea from testing or using nuclear or ballistic missile technology, and from importing or exporting material for these programmes. |
| The latest sanctions resolution, adopted in January, again demanded that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons programme and cease missile launches. It slapped sanctions on North Korean companies and government agencies, including its space agency and several individuals. | The latest sanctions resolution, adopted in January, again demanded that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons programme and cease missile launches. It slapped sanctions on North Korean companies and government agencies, including its space agency and several individuals. |
| The diplomats said they did not know what new sanctions would be included in the resolution to be circulated on Tuesday. There has been speculation that a new resolution will strengthen existing sanctions related to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, toughen financial restrictions and cargo inspections, and add additional companies and individuals to the sanctions list. | The diplomats said they did not know what new sanctions would be included in the resolution to be circulated on Tuesday. There has been speculation that a new resolution will strengthen existing sanctions related to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, toughen financial restrictions and cargo inspections, and add additional companies and individuals to the sanctions list. |
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