UN draft text on North Korea imposes mandatory cargo inspections

A UN draft resolution aimed at tightening sanctions on Pyongyang would require that countries take the unprecedented step of inspecting all cargo to and from North Korea, US Ambassador Samantha Power said Thursday.

“For the first time in history, all cargo going in and out of the DPRK would be subjected to mandatory inspection,” Power told reporters after presenting the measure to the UN Security Council.

The resolution drafted by the United States would also bar North Korean vessels suspected of carrying illegal goods from ports worldwide and tighten an arms embargo to ban supplies of small arms.

It also provides for a ban on exports of coal, iron, gold, titanium and rare earth minerals from North Korea and imposes a ban on the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel.

“These sanctions if adopted would send an unambiguous and unyielding message to the DPRK regime, ” said Power.

“The world will not accept your proliferation. There will be consequences for your actions.”

The draft text was presented to the 15-member council after the United States and China, Pyongyang’s sole ally, agreed on the package of measures, capping seven weeks of tough negotiations.

The UN Security Council decided to impose new measures on North Korea after it carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6 and test-fired a rocket on February 7.

Both tests were in violation of a series of resolutions barring North Korea from developing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Source: AFP