Seven powers reach deal on UN North Korea curbs

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Seven key powers reached a tentative deal Wednesday on a draft UN Security Council resolution that would expand sanctions to punish North Korea for its recent nuclear test, with a vote expected by week’s end.
The consensus text, agreed after more than two weeks of hard-nosed bargaining among envoys of the five permanent members of the Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Japan and South Korea, was submitted to the full 15-member Security Council Wednesday.
The Council will adopt the resolution by Friday, Germany’s foreign minister said during a visit to Moscow.
“The efforts made for a resolution were rewarded with success,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after seven key powers reached a tentative deal at the United Nations to expand sanctions on Pyongyang.
“We expect a vote at the Security Council by Friday at the latest,” he told a news conference after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The US will not accept a nuclear Pyongyang and is committed to defending neighboring Japan and South Korea, the nominee to be the top US diplomat for Asia said.
Kurt Campbell, speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing to be the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs, said North Korea posed a “direct and reckless challenge” to the world with its recent nuclear test. US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice told reporters after the meeting that she introduced the text on behalf of the seven, saying it provided “a very strong, very credible, very appropriate response to the very provocative North Korean nuclear test” and subsequent short-range missile firings.
Describing North Korea’s behaviour as “unacceptable,” she said the North Koreans “must pay a price” and “the consequences they will face are significant.”
Turkey’s UN Ambassador Baki Ilkin, the Council chair this month, said members would now “evaluate the draft resolution, send it to their capitals and will request instructions on how to proceed.” Adoption of the text is virtually assured now that the key players have endorsed it, diplomats said.