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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Deal closer on N Korea sanctions | Deal closer on N Korea sanctions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| World powers are edging closer to agreeing sanctions against North Korea following its claimed nuclear test. | World powers are edging closer to agreeing sanctions against North Korea following its claimed nuclear test. |
| The US has revised a draft UN Security Council resolution to remove the threat of imminent military action in a bid to allay Chinese and Russian concerns. | The US has revised a draft UN Security Council resolution to remove the threat of imminent military action in a bid to allay Chinese and Russian concerns. |
| In Beijing, the Chinese and South Korean leaders agreed the UN must take "necessary and appropriate" action. A UN vote is expected on Saturday. | In Beijing, the Chinese and South Korean leaders agreed the UN must take "necessary and appropriate" action. A UN vote is expected on Saturday. |
| Japan's cabinet has confirmed it is imposing unilateral sanctions. | Japan's cabinet has confirmed it is imposing unilateral sanctions. |
| The Japanese measures, first announced on Wednesday, include trade and travel bans, barring North Korean ships from Japan's ports, and freezing imports and visits by North Korean officials. | The Japanese measures, first announced on Wednesday, include trade and travel bans, barring North Korean ships from Japan's ports, and freezing imports and visits by North Korean officials. |
| Pyongyang has promised "strong countermeasures" against any sanctions. | Pyongyang has promised "strong countermeasures" against any sanctions. |
| LATEST DRAFT RESOLUTION Bans sale of tanks, helicopters and missiles, as well as nuclear and missile technologyAllows inspection of ships going to or from N KoreaBans sale of luxury goodsBans travel by those working on weapons and missile programmesAny further action needs new UN resolution Who stands where | LATEST DRAFT RESOLUTION Bans sale of tanks, helicopters and missiles, as well as nuclear and missile technologyAllows inspection of ships going to or from N KoreaBans sale of luxury goodsBans travel by those working on weapons and missile programmesAny further action needs new UN resolution Who stands where |
| North Korean vessels deliver crabs, clams or prized matsutake mushrooms to Japan, then return home filled with used bicycles, used cars, motorcycles or old household appliances - items which can be sold in the impoverished North. | North Korean vessels deliver crabs, clams or prized matsutake mushrooms to Japan, then return home filled with used bicycles, used cars, motorcycles or old household appliances - items which can be sold in the impoverished North. |
| North Korean ships are currently loading up in Japanese ports ahead of a Friday midnight (1500 GMT) deadline. | North Korean ships are currently loading up in Japanese ports ahead of a Friday midnight (1500 GMT) deadline. |
| Resolution takes shape | Resolution takes shape |
| The new US draft resolution restricts sanctions to non-military actions, limits arms sanctions to heavy weapons only, but retains a controversial provision allowing nations to inspect cargo moving in and out of North Korea in pursuit of unconventional weapons. | The new US draft resolution restricts sanctions to non-military actions, limits arms sanctions to heavy weapons only, but retains a controversial provision allowing nations to inspect cargo moving in and out of North Korea in pursuit of unconventional weapons. |
| N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Q&A: Nuclear crisis Underground nuclear testing href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6047596.stm" class="">Press examines options | |
| The resolution urges North Korea to implement a September 2005 agreement in which it pledged to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees. | The resolution urges North Korea to implement a September 2005 agreement in which it pledged to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees. |
| Diplomats at the UN hope to produce a final text later in the day, which can then be put to a vote on Saturday. | Diplomats at the UN hope to produce a final text later in the day, which can then be put to a vote on Saturday. |
| "We have made very substantial progress," US envoy John Bolton said after meeting with the other four veto-holding UN Security Council members - Russia, China, Britain and France. | "We have made very substantial progress," US envoy John Bolton said after meeting with the other four veto-holding UN Security Council members - Russia, China, Britain and France. |
| "I don't want to say we've reached agreement yet, but many, many of the significant differences have been closed, very much to our satisfaction," he said. | "I don't want to say we've reached agreement yet, but many, many of the significant differences have been closed, very much to our satisfaction," he said. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reported to be planning to tour China, Japan and South Korea next week in an attempt to galvanise support for a strong stance against Pyongyang. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reported to be planning to tour China, Japan and South Korea next week in an attempt to galvanise support for a strong stance against Pyongyang. |
| Diplomatic push | Diplomatic push |
| South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun has held talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on how to respond to North Korea's claimed test. | South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun has held talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on how to respond to North Korea's claimed test. |
| A top South Korean official said the two men did not discuss the details of the draft resolution but agreed in general principle to support UN action. | A top South Korean official said the two men did not discuss the details of the draft resolution but agreed in general principle to support UN action. |
| North Korean ships are rushing to beat Japan's deadline | North Korean ships are rushing to beat Japan's deadline |
| "The two leaders agreed to support appropriate and necessary counter-measures by the UN Security Council against North Korea," Song Min-soon, Mr Roh's National Security Adviser, said. | "The two leaders agreed to support appropriate and necessary counter-measures by the UN Security Council against North Korea," Song Min-soon, Mr Roh's National Security Adviser, said. |
| Mr Roh is facing increasing pressure at home to reverse his so-called "sunshine policy" of engagement with the South's Communist neighbour. | Mr Roh is facing increasing pressure at home to reverse his so-called "sunshine policy" of engagement with the South's Communist neighbour. |
| As many as 3,000 protesters gathered outside the city hall in Seoul to demand the government cut off aid and investment to North Korea. | As many as 3,000 protesters gathered outside the city hall in Seoul to demand the government cut off aid and investment to North Korea. |
| Monday's announcement by North Korea that it had carried out a successful test of a nuclear weapon has sent political shock waves around the region. | Monday's announcement by North Korea that it had carried out a successful test of a nuclear weapon has sent political shock waves around the region. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If the US, UK and other governments wish to stop other countries having nuclear weapons then they should lead by example Alastair Mooney, Leicester, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY If the US, UK and other governments wish to stop other countries having nuclear weapons then they should lead by example Alastair Mooney, Leicester, UK Send us your comments |
| But there has been some speculation that the test was unsuccessful, based on the relatively small size of the blast. | But there has been some speculation that the test was unsuccessful, based on the relatively small size of the blast. |
| Both South Korean and Chinese scientists said on Friday they had detected no evidence of radioactivity in air, soil and rainwater tests. | Both South Korean and Chinese scientists said on Friday they had detected no evidence of radioactivity in air, soil and rainwater tests. |
| But Yoo Bong-jin, an official with South Korea's ministry of science and technology, warned that the findings were not proof that a nuclear test had failed. | But Yoo Bong-jin, an official with South Korea's ministry of science and technology, warned that the findings were not proof that a nuclear test had failed. |
| Meanwhile, South Korea's defence minister Yoon Kwan-ung has said the government believes North Korea is working to weaponise its nuclear bombs but needs a "few more years" before it is successful. | Meanwhile, South Korea's defence minister Yoon Kwan-ung has said the government believes North Korea is working to weaponise its nuclear bombs but needs a "few more years" before it is successful. |