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Deal closer on N Korea sanctions 'Saturday' UN vote on North Korea
(about 3 hours later)
World powers are edging closer to agreeing sanctions against North Korea following its claimed nuclear test. US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton says he expects the Security Council to approve on Saturday a resolution calling for sanctions on North Korea.
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 move follows Pyongyang's statement that it has tested a nuclear bomb.
In Beijing, the Chinese and South Korean leaders agreed the UN must take "necessary and appropriate" action. A UN vote is expected on Saturday. The US has revised a draft resolution to remove the threat of imminent military action, in a effort to allay Chinese and Russian concerns.
Meanwhile the US says it has so far not established that the North's test last week had reached the nuclear threshold.
This does not mean that the explosion was not nuclear - just that the tests the US have run thus far cannot definitely conclude that this was the case, officials told the BBC.
At UN headquarters in New York, Mr Bolton said there was "unanimous agreement" on a resolution providing for sanctions, and that a vote was scheduled for Saturday.
This was confirmed by Japanese envoy Kenzo Oshima, the current council president.
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 In pictures: Sanctions bite Who stands where
"All council members are asked to come back tomorrow [Saturday]," he said.
In Beijing, the Chinese and South Korean leaders agreed the UN must take "necessary and appropriate" action.
The new US draft resolution restricts sanctions to non-military actions and 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 resolution urges Pyongyang to implement a September 2005 agreement in which it pledged to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees.
Japan's cabinet has confirmed it is imposing unilateral sanctions.Japan's cabinet has confirmed it is imposing unilateral sanctions.
'Countermeasures'
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.
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 In pictures: Sanctions bite 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 ships are currently loading up in Japanese ports ahead of a Friday midnight (1500 GMT) deadline.
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.
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 Press examines optionsN 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 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. Pyongyang has promised "strong countermeasures" against any sanctions.
Diplomats at the UN hope to produce a final text later in the day, which can then be put to a vote on Saturday. North Korean vessels deliver crabs, clams or prized matsutake mushrooms to Japan, returning with used bicycles, used cars, motorcycles or old household appliances.
"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. Ships have been loading up in Japanese ports ahead of a Friday midnight (1500 GMT) deadline.
"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 reportedly 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 pushDiplomatic 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 Korean 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 deadlineNorth 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 North.
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 Seoul city hall to demand the government cut off aid and investment.
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 commentsHAVE 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 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.