USA: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton tell Sunday politics shows they're pleased with UN vote for sweeping sanctions on North Korea

One day after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea, U.S. officials said Sunday (October 15, 2006) they were satisfied with the result. The U.N. Security Council on Saturday (October 14) voted unanimously to impose financial and weapons sanctions on North Korea after it announced it carried out a nuclear test last Monday (October 9). Pyongyang's envoy swiftly rejected the 15-0 vote as "gangster-like". The resolution, which calls Pyongyang's action a "clear threat to international peace and security", allows nations to stop cargo going to and from North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction or related supplies. It also bars trade with North Korea in dangerous weapons and imposes bans on heavy conventional weapons and luxury goods , asking nations to freeze funds connected with North Korea's non-conventional arms programmes. Enforcement will depend largely on whether those who have traded with North Korea - including China and Russia - honour the bans. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the "Fox News Sunday" programme she was pleased the resolution had passed. "This is a remarkable unity of purpose and unity of message to North Korea," Rice told the show's host Chris Wallace. "You cannot underestimate how big a blow it is to North Korea to have all of the neighbors now, including what has been its strongest supporter until now - China, fully united behind sanctions against its nuclear neighbour." Most of Pyongyang's trade crosses through China, which fears a flood of refugees if the Pyongyang government collapses. North Korea also rests between China's border and South Korea, where 25,000 U.S. troops are stationed. Rice is set to visit Japan, South Korea and China later in the week to discuss enforcing the provisions in the U.S.-drafted resolution "We believe that there may be other steps that will be necessary given North Korea's behaviour," Rice said. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said he expected China to be on board adhering to the terms of the resolution and denied the resolution that was passed had been watered down in terms of its language on inspections. "I think first off you have to remember that China voted in favour of this resolution which is under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter and therefore binding on them. So, I don't think there's any reason to believe that they are not going to abide by the terms of the resolution," Bolton said, speaking to Tim Russert, host of American network NBC's Sunday politics programme "Meet The Press". Some analysts said the threat of ship inspections was an ultimatum to North Korea to respond to diplomatic overtures and return to moribund six-party talks on its nuclear programs. North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, walked out of Saturday's Security Council meeting warning that Pyongyang considered any further U.S. pressure a "declaration of war". North Korea has issued similar statements before, but this time it was before a formal audience.

ITN Source | October 16, 2006

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