Sanctions: Security Council acts to cut off funds, materials for N. Korea nuclear program

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to impose sanctions on North Korea that are meant to cut off the materials and funding for its nuclear program, although China ruled out participating in inspections of North Korean cargo.

After what Russia's ambassador called "tense negotiations," the resolution does not allow military enforcement of the sanctions and makes clear that the restrictions will be lifted once North Korea abandons its nuclear program and returns to talks. It also contains exemptions to the sanctions to minimize the impact on civilians.

The decision by all 15 members to punish North Korea while leaving the diplomatic door open was a hard-fought act of unity in the wake of the reclusive regime's defiant Oct. 9 announcement that it had conducted a nuclear test, days after the Security Council warned of "serious consequences."

"The Security Council has adopted one of the most important decisions in recent times on an issue of great concern to the international community, that of nonproliferation," Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima said after the vote.

To ensure that North Korea does not acquire new materials for its weapons programs, or send nuclear goods to other countries, the resolution calls for a ban on goods related to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs and a freeze on financial activities that support them, as well as a travel ban for certain North Korean officials. It also would put an embargo on heavy conventional weapons and luxury goods.

But China said Saturday it would not participate in a key measure that would allow the inspection and seizure of suspected nuclear and missile materials going in and out of North Korea. At China's insistence, the final text was diluted from requiring countries to aggressively inspect North Korean cargo to merely requesting them to do so.

"China will implement this resolution, but it will not participate in those inspections," Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said. "We strongly urge those who think it is necessary to do it with caution, because it could easily lead by one side or the other to a provocation of conflict. That would have serious implications for the region."

China's reluctance to take part in inspections of North Korean cargo to help stop the flow of weapons materials throws into doubt how effective the sanctions will be. China is North Korea's closest neighbor and provides an estimated 70 percent of its oil and 40 percent of its food. Beijing doesn't want the sanctions to cause the unstable regime in Pyongyang to collapse, sending refugees flooding across the Chinese border.