Members of the UN Security Council discussed Wednesday new measures to curb North Korea's nuclear proliferation, including a proposal to inspect all cargo suspected of carrying prohibited materials at airports, seaports and on the high seas, according to dpa. The six-page text said sanctions adopted by the council in 2006, after North Korea exploded its first nuclear device, would also remain in effect. The new proposal calls on all states to inspect "all cargo to and from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in their territory, including seaports and airports, if the state concerned has information that provides reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains items" that are under embargo. The inspection of vessels can be carried out on the high seas, with the consent of the vessels' flag state and in accordance with international law. States and their nationals would be called upon not to provide "bunkering services," such as fuels or supplies, or other servicing of vessels to the North Koreans if they possess information that those vessels are carrying items embargoed by the council. The draft resolution, which was worked out by the council's five permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - plus Japan and South Korea, would condemn North Korea's in the "strongest terms" for exploding a second nuclear device on May 25 in "violation and flagrant disregard" of UN resolutions and the wish of the international community. It "demands that the DPRK not conduct any further nuclear test or any such launch using ballistic missile technology." It "decides that the DPRK shall suspend all activities related to the ballistic missile programme and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launches." The draft would call on North Korea to return to the six-party talks and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. It would call on North Korea to "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programme in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and immediately cease all related activities." The so-called interdiction by air and sea of shipments that may contain illicit nuclear materials or weapons has been under consideration by the council since 2006, but was opposed by China, Russia and South Korea. The United States last weekend called for an effective interdiction, which would be the strongest measure against the Pyongyang regime on top of a comprehensive set of sanctions if accepted by China and Russia. After North Korea exploded its first nuclear bomb in October, 2006, the 15-nation council imposed sanctions that included an embargo on sale of weapons, war equipment and nuclear materials or technology to North Korea. The sanctions ban North Korea from selling and transferring its weapons or nuclear technology to other countries. The council also asked UN members to prevent their nationals from engaging in the transfer of embargoed items to Pyongyang. The sanctions included also a freeze by states of assets that belonged to North Korea. The draft resolution calls on states not to provide public financial support for trade with North Korea, including granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance to their nationals or entities involved in such trade if those transactions would assist that country's nuclear programme. The draft would give states 45 days, from the day the council has adopted the new resolution, to report whether they will have implemented the new measures.
