Fade
06-13-2009, 02:00 PM
China backs plan to search North Korean ships and halt arms deals
James Bone in New York and Leo Lewis in Tokyo
The major powers, including the United States and China, agreed yesterday on a system to inspect suspect cargoes in and out of North Korea despite Pyongyang’s warning that it would regard such checks as an act of war.
The draft UN resolution — a response to North Korea’s nuclear test on May 25 — would also expand the arms embargo on the country and clamp down on arms-related money transfers. The full 15-nation Security Council is expected to endorse the plan as early as tomorrow.
“This sanctions resolution, if passed by the Security Council, will bite and bite in a meaningful way,” Susan Rice, Washington’s UN Ambassador, said.
China, the closest North Korea has to a powerful ally, threw its weight behind the plan after watering down some of the language on inspections. “I hope countries will endorse the text,” Liu Zhenmin, China’s UN representative, said.
The proposed resolution is a tough response by the Obama Administration as it tries to break the cycle of offering repeated concessions to North Korea in return for broken promises of co-operation.
The provision for the inspection of ships and aircraft could provide a flashpoint with the reclusive Stalinist regime in North Korea, where a succession struggle appears to be under way.Article continued at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6474442.ece
James Bone in New York and Leo Lewis in Tokyo
The major powers, including the United States and China, agreed yesterday on a system to inspect suspect cargoes in and out of North Korea despite Pyongyang’s warning that it would regard such checks as an act of war.
The draft UN resolution — a response to North Korea’s nuclear test on May 25 — would also expand the arms embargo on the country and clamp down on arms-related money transfers. The full 15-nation Security Council is expected to endorse the plan as early as tomorrow.
“This sanctions resolution, if passed by the Security Council, will bite and bite in a meaningful way,” Susan Rice, Washington’s UN Ambassador, said.
China, the closest North Korea has to a powerful ally, threw its weight behind the plan after watering down some of the language on inspections. “I hope countries will endorse the text,” Liu Zhenmin, China’s UN representative, said.
The proposed resolution is a tough response by the Obama Administration as it tries to break the cycle of offering repeated concessions to North Korea in return for broken promises of co-operation.
The provision for the inspection of ships and aircraft could provide a flashpoint with the reclusive Stalinist regime in North Korea, where a succession struggle appears to be under way.Article continued at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6474442.ece