UN Security Council condemns NKorea nuke test

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council swiftly condemned North Korea's nuclear test on Monday as "a clear violation" of a 2006 resolution and said it will start work immediately on another one that could result in new sanctions against the reclusive nation.

Hours after North Korea defiantly conducted its second test, its closest allies China and Russia joined Western powers and representatives from the rest of the world on the council to voice strong opposition to the underground explosion.

After a brief emergency meeting held at Japan's request, the council demanded that North Korea abide by two previous resolutions, which among other things called for Pyongyang to abandon all nuclear weapons and return to six-party talks aimed at eliminating its nuclear program.

It also called on all other U.N. member states to abide by sanctions imposed on the North, including embargoes on arms and material that could be used in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and ship searches for banned weapons.

In an AP interview in Copenhagen, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the test as a "grave violation" of council resolutions and called on the council in a statement to send "a strong and unified message" aimed at achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and peace and security in the region.

Ban, who is South Korean, urged the North "to refrain from taking any actions which will deteriorate the situation."

Leaders in the United States, European Union and Russia also offered quick and pointed criticism. Even China's foreign ministry joined the chorus of disapproval, saying it "resolutely opposed" the test.

"North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community," President Barack Obama said in a statement. "North Korea's behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia."

Story continues below

advertisement

In Brussels, the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, denounced the test as a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current Security Council president, made clear in a statement that the council's condemnation was only an initial response, and that more will follow. He said it was too early to give any specifics.

"The members of the Security Council have decided to start work immediately on a Security Council resolution on this matter," he said.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the 15-member council agreed that work on the new resolution will begin Tuesday.

"What we heard today was swift, clear, unequivocal condemnation and opposition to what occurred," she said.

France's deputy U.N. ambassador Jean-Pierre Lacroix said France wants the new resolution to "include new sanctions ... because this behavior must have a cost and a price to pay."

Japan's U.N. Ambassador Yukio Takasu, a non-permanent council member, said his country was pleased that the rest of the council agreed there should be a new resolution. But he noted that sanctions imposed against three North Korean companies after Pyongyang's missile test in April obviously had no effect.

"So therefore I think we really have to think very carefully what will be an effective way to deal with this kind of behavior," he said. "We have to do something more, and the question is what is more."

Churkin was asked whether Russia viewed the nuclear test as more serious than the North's launch of a missile in April.

"This is a very rare occurrence as you know, and it goes contrary not only to resolutions of the Security Council but also the (Nuclear) Nonproliferation Treaty and the (Nuclear) Test Ban Treaty," he replied. "We are one of the founding fathers _ Russia is _ of those documents, so we think they're extremely important in current international relations. So anything which would undermine the regimes of those two treaties is very serious and needs to have a strong response."

Before the council meeting, the five permanent veto-wielding members of the council _ the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France _ met behind closed doors for over an hour with the ambassadors of Japan and South Korea.

North Korea claimed the underground nuclear test Monday was much larger than one it conducted in 2006, which led to the first U.N. sanctions resolution. Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed an atomic explosion occurred early Monday in northeastern North Korea and estimated that its strength was similar to bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

After the council rebuked Pyongyang for its April 5 rocket liftoff, which many nations saw as a cover for testing its long-range missile technology, North Korea announced it was quitting disarmament talks and restarting its atomic facilities. The six-party talks, which began in 2003, had involved North Korea, South Korea, Russia, China, Japan, and the United States.

___

Associated Press Writers John Heilprin and Jan M. Olsen contributed to this report from Copenhagen.

Comments

[balrog60]

North Korea is the Fredo to South Korea's Michael Corleone. "Michael" is responsible for his dumb, jealous brother and should take care of the situation.

Come on South Korea (or China)! Show some cojones, and get your brothers in line! They just need a spanking, NOT A WAR.

If you want to be respected as a world player, you need to show some leadership!

The USA does NOT need to get involved. We're involved in enough "stuff" already.

[Tom Joad]

So now another nation owns the paper tiger. I'm sure it will bring them great joy. Good luck to them.

[warlover]

The U.S. does'nt need a U.N. security council resolution to invade North Korea or any other nation, Iraq found that out. There is no U.N. only a debating society who can be led by the only true world power left in the world.

[Wisdo]

The UN is a debating society. Thats what it is supposed to be. Thats what it was set up for. What do you want it to be - a one world Army?

[shallowthoughts]

Of course North Korea is a rouge nation and prone to follow its own course but maybe the precedent for their lack of respect for international treaties is when George Bush, as one of his first acts in his first term, unilaterally backed out of an international weapons treaty because he wanted to make more nuclear weapons. I remember thinking at the time that it wouldn't be long before no nation felt it necessary to honor treaties anymore.

[Nomccain]

Negotiations are useless. Unless somebody is willing to take decisive action against both Iran and North Korea, they'll both end up with nuclear weapons to intimidate and threaten the world. I just wonder why it always has to be US!!!! It would seem that Iran is a greater threat to Israel than to us and North Korea is a greater threat to Japan and China than to us. Why are we the ones who always takes the lead in starting a war and winding up carrying the major load? Personally, I'm sick and tired of it. it's way past time that others help in this fight in a meaningful way like FIGHTING.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I agree. The rest of the world has to grow up and stand up and take part. Unfortunately, with Iraq Bush showed his behind to our allies and engaged in war despite the UN and he antagonized allies all over the world.

I am glad that Russia and China finally stood up immediately to condemn this insanity.

I also think that negotiations and diplomacy can still work as long as there are penalties. So far Russia and China supported N.Korea despite the embargos. Maybe now, progress can be made if Russia and China stop pandering.

[Wisdo]

"they'll both end up with nuclear weapons to intimidate and threaten the world"

the way america intimidates and threatens the world?

"Personally, I'm sick and tired of it. it's way past time that others help in this fight in a meaningful way like FIGHTING."

Perhaps another solution would be for America to STOP FIGHTING everyone it sees as even a minor threat. This sort of behaviour is psycopathic. Try to just get along. There ya go.

[aflyinyoursoup]

"The U.N. Security Council swiftly condemned North Korea's nuclear test on Monday as "a clear violation"

Uuuuuuu...­.Kim Jong-il must be shaking in his boots.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I think he must be because his old allies, China and Russia, were quickly and onboard this time. Imagine if China truly upheld embargos against N. Korea? Then diplomacy would work because the rest of the world is doing part of the heavy lifting.

I must say I am impressed with China and Russia. No BS'ing like last time.

[TParrish]

I would agree with this assessment if N. Korea had a leader who was not insane. Any belief that we know what this loon is thinking is misguided.

[Wisdo]

Imagine if the US truely held up the embargoes against Israel - instead of vetoing them every time?

THEN you see there would be this problem of a complete double standard every time the US demands something of one country but allows another to go ahead with a pat on the head and a few billion in the pocket.

WHY should ANY country do what america says?
WHY should any country NOT develop its own nuclear deterrent, since Americans will invade at the drop of a hat, any time they see a chance for profit!

[shallowthoughts]

Of course North Korea is a rouge nation and prone to follow its own course but maybe the precedent for their lack of respect for international treaties is when George Bush, as one of his first acts in his first term, unilaterally backed out of an international weapons treaty because he wanted to make more nuclear weapons. I remember thinking at the time that it wouldn't be long before no nation felt it necessary to honor treaties anymore.