United Nations Security Council approves sanctions against North Korea

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions aimed at punishing North Korea for its latest missile and nuclear tests after the US dropped demands such as an oil embargo to win support from Russia and China.

The 15-member council passed the resolution unanimously on Monday following a week of talks that began when Kim Jong Un’s regime tested its most powerful nuclear bomb.

The resolution seeks to cut imports of refined petroleum products to 2 million barrels a year, ban textile exports and strengthen inspections of ships that are believed to be carrying cargo in breach of sanctions.

"We are acting in response to a dangerous new development," US envoy Nikki Haley told the Security Council after the vote. "These are the strongest measures ever imposed on North Korea," she said, adding that the US remains willing to act alone to stop Kim’s nuclear programme if necessary.

North Korea has yet to respond to the sanctions. South Korea said on Tuesday that the isolated state remained technically prepared to perform a nuclear test. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon told parliament that while dialogue is ultimately the only solution, it’s not time to talk with North Korea.

While the US can claim a victory in persuading Russia and China — which hold veto power on the Security Council — to agree to the restrictions, the result is less than Haley had sought when she pushed for a ban on oil and a freeze on Kim’s assets abroad. And it’s unlikely to persuade Kim to halt his nuclear programme and return to the negotiating table.

"Despite the tough talk, the US is willing to water down its demands to get support of Russia and China, and that is a calculation that we are more influential when there is Security Council unity," said George Lopez, a professor of peace studies at the University of Notre Dame and a former UN expert on sanctions against North Korea Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the UN said the sanctions were "better than nothing, but not enough to really pressure North Korea," adding that Pyongyang is likely to respond with a missile launch in the next few days.