New UN North Korea sanctions
The UN Security Council has voted to tighten financial restrictions on North Korea after it carried out a third nuclear test and breached other trade sanctions. Pyongyang had vowed preemptive nuclear strikes against the US if the vote had been passed
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China: Top priority to 'defuse the tension' over N Korea
Li Bao Dong, the Chinese ambassador to the UN, gave this reaction to the Security Council approving new sanctions against North Korea:
– Li Bao Dong, Chinese ambassador to the UNAdoption of the resolution itself is not enough. Adoption of the resolution is not for the sake of adoption, is not for the sake of the sanctions.
We want to see full implementation of the resolution. The top priority now is to defuse the tension, bring down heat, focus on diplomatic track.
Bring the solution back on the track of diplomacy.
White House: US capable of defending against N Korea
The White House has said that the US is "fully capable" of defending itself against a North Korean ballistic missile attack.
Asked whether North Korea's threat was being taken seriously, a White House spokeswoman said that foreign government's must be "taken at their word".
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Foreign Office: North Korea poses a 'real threat'
Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire has welcomed the Security Council's unanimous approval of new sanctions against North Korea, warning that the country still poses a "real threat".
– hugo swire, foreign office ministerThis Resolution expands the scope of existing sanctions on North Korea and includes tough new measures which will make it harder for it to pursue its illicit proliferation activities ...
North Korea’s development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes poses a real and increasing threat to regional and international peace and security.
US envoy: It is time for North Korea to change course
The UN Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice has tweeted about today's unanimous vote by Security Council members to approve new sanctions against North Korea:
The new #UN resolution increases #NorthKorea isolation and raises the cost to their leaders for defying the international community.
From @AmbassadorRice on Twitter:The strength, breadth & severity of the #DPRK sanctions will make it much more difficult for them to pursue their WMD & missile programs.
From @AmbassadorRice on Twitter:We regret that North Korea has again chosen the path of provocation, instead of path of peace. It’s time for North Korea to change course.
From @AmbassadorRice on Twitter:Read: US draft takes North Korea sanctions 'to the next level'
UN chief asks N Korea to refrain from 'bellicose rhetoric'
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has welcomed the adoption of more stringent sanctions against North Korea by the Security Council.
A spokesman for the Secretary General said: "Acting unanimously and agreeing on effective and credible measures, the Security Council has sent an unequivocal message to the DPRK that the international community will not tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons and related acts."
He also said Mr Ban remains "deeply concerned" about tensions in the region and called on North Korea to "refrain from any further destabilizing steps or bellicose rhetoric"
US envoy: North Korean threats will achieve nothing
Speaking after the vote, the US envoy to the UN Susan Rice said the "entire world stands united in our commitment to the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and in our demand that North Korea complies with its international obligations."
Asked about North Korea’s threat to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear attack, Rice said it would "achieve nothing by continued threats and provocations".
Read: North Korea ready to take preemptive nuclear strikes against US
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North Korea sanctions are 'exceptional' in scope
The new sanctions against North Korea that have just been approved by the UN Security Council are "exceptional" in their breadth and scope, US envoy Susan Rice said on Tuesday.
She said the sanctions would target the "illicit activities of North Korean diplomatic personnel", "banking relationships" and "illicit transfers of bulk cash" in addition to "new travel restrictions".
Read: US draft takes North Korea sanctions 'to the next level'
US will 'not accept' North Korea as a nuclear state
The US will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state and will not reward it for returning to nuclear talks, the US envoy on North Korean policy Glyn Davies has said.
It follows the Security Council voting in favour of a new round of sanctions against the country.
UN approves new sanctions against North Korea
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved new sanctions to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test.
The 15 members of the Security Council voted to tighten financial restrictions on Pyongyang and crack down on its attempts to ship and receive banned cargo in breach of UN sanctions.
N Korea set for preemptive nuclear strikes against US
North Korea has announced it has the right to launch a "preemptive nuclear attack" against the US.
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