UN Security Council meets on U.S.-drafted, China-backed sanctions vs. N. Korea

New York, NY, United States (4E) – The 15 members of the United Nations Security Council met Tuesday to discuss a draft resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea for defying a ban on nuclear testing.

The U.S.-proposed sanctions are reportedly supported by China, a close ally of North Korea.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has circulated the draft resolution to members of the council. The resolution restricts illicit activities and travel of certain North Korean diplomats. It also restricts banking activities and bulk cash transfers by North Korea.

Rice said the sanctions aim to impede Pyongyang’s nuclear program and she expects council members to vote on the resolution this week.

The sanctions loom as the fourth round against North Korea for its nuclear weapon program. The first round of sanctions in 2006 banned shipment of arms and ballistic missile materials and exports of luxury goods to North Korea. Assets of North Korean individuals and companies were also frozen and certain officials were banned from traveling.

The second round of sanctions in 2009 banned exports of North Korean weapons.

In December, a third round of sanctions was imposed after North Korea tested a ballistic missile carrier and launched a rocket that carried a satellite into space.

The current asset freeze and travel ban cover 17 North Korean banks, trading companies and other entities as well as nine North Koreans linked to the country’s nuclear program.

The latest proposed round of sanction is in response to North Korea’s underground atomic bomb explosion test on Feb. 12.

In the face of fresh sanctions, North Korea on Tuesday threatened to nullify the 1953 truce with South Korea that stopped hostilities but did not officially end the Korean War.

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