UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council unanimously imposed mandatory targeted sanctions against North Korea over its recent missile tests in the direction of Japan.
China, the main provider of aid to the isolated Stalinist State, voted in favour of the text after its co-sponsors dropped a reference to Chapter Seven of the UN charter, which can authorise tough wide-ranging sanctions or even military action.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya had threatened to veto the text if it invoked Chapter Seven. Diplomats in Moscow and Beijing claim that the US had used Chapter Seven to justify going to war against Iraq in 2003.
The resolution 'condemns' the July missile tests.
It 'requires all member states, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, to exercise vigilance and prevent missile and missile related items, materials, goods and technology being transferred to (North Korea's) missile or WMD (weapons of mass destruction) programs.'
It also underlines the need for North Korea 'to show restraint and refrain from any action that might aggravate tension' and to return to six-nation talks on resolving concerns over its nuclear and missile programmes. steve.whitehouse@afxnews.com afp/sw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited