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Sanctions Passed Against North Korea

The United Nations Security Council overcame the opposition of Russia and China to several points in a draft resolution and voted Saturday to impose harsh economic sanctions on Pyongyang. The resolution calls for an embargo on certain items being shipped to and from North Korea, and not only enables but obligates nations to participate in the inspections regime. China, though, to avoid a further fraying of relations with its neighbor and ally North Korea, has said it will not participate in the way that Washington would like it to. As the resolution was passed, North Korea`s UN ambassador stormed out of the chamber in anger.

It had at first seemed unlikely that the resolution would be passed this weekend without further revisions to the draft resolution. As late as Saturday morning diplomats had indicated the probability that the issue might not be put to a vote as soon as many on the Council wanted. Time was seen as being of the essence, because of a desire to send a strong message to North Korea about the unacceptable step it had taken in testing a nuclear weapon. Eventually, while some could say the language was watered down, the sanctions could be tough enough to make the point Washington wished to make.

Already, both Japan and Australia have stated that they might participate in the inspections regime by interdicting ships with suspected cargoes bound for or departing from North Korea. Tokyo has already enacted a ban on North Korean vessels from docking in Japanese ports, a measure which is set to be enforced for at least six months. South Korea, however, has announced that it will not stop sending certain forms of financial aid to North Korea that the U.S. fears is being used to fund nuclear research in North Korea. China, Russia and South Korea have opposed the use of force to settle the crisis.