UNSC imposes tougher sanctions on N. Korea

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council Friday imposed tougher sanctions on North Korea that include a tighter arms embargo and new financial restrictions, following the nuclear test conducted by the East Asian nation last month.
By unanimously adopting resolution 1874, the 15-member body condemned the 25 May nuclear test conducted in "violation and flagrant disregard" of relevant Council resolutions,
It also demanded that North Korea must "not conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology."
The Council imposed a series of measures on North Korea, including tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to the country's nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo with the exception of light weapons and new financial restrictions.
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said it would not be surprising if North Korea reacted to the sanctions with "further provocation."
"There's reason to believe they may respond in an irresponsible fashion to this," she said, adding that she expects the sanctions to have significant impact on North Korea's financing of its weapons programs.
Rice said US officials would seek permission to board and inspect ships believed to be carrying contraband materials to North Korea, but will not try to forcibly board them.
China's UN ambassador, Zhang Yesui, whose country is an ally of North Korea, said the resolution demonstrates the international community's "firm opposition" to the nuclear test.
As the same time, he said it also shows the Security Council's determination to resolve the issue "peacefully through dialogue and negotiations" by calling for the resumption of six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program.
China urges care in doing cargo inspections
Zhang cautioned that care should be exercised in carrying out inspections at sea, saying, "countries have to act prudently, with sufficient grounds," and that "under no circumstances should there be use or threat of force."